Weight

Little choices every day impact our weight.

Everything in moderation is the key to success!

Those who are able to achieve a weight that is right for them and maintain it will agree.

Drastic diets, big changes, and deprivation of foods are not the answer. I'm not here to promote a product, a fad, or a diet. It's a way of life and it comes down to The Little Things that are easier to stick with over time! Having a husband, two children, working full-time and attending school full-time leaves me with very little time to focus on myself, let alone a strict diet.

My keys to success and tips for you are the little things you can do every day:

• Eat! But be smart about when you do it.
• Your body needs fuel right away in the morning to start burning calories
• Something with substance such as toast or a breakfast bar paired with fruit is good
• Don't let your body run out of fuel. You should be eating every 3 hours. Yes, that's right.
• A constant supply of food keeps your levels constant
• You don't feel like you're starving and you don't have those awful cravings
• I typically eat around 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm
• It's usually not a good idea to eat later into the night since your body is shutting down and least likely to burn off any calories

• Eat! But be smart about how much.
• Our idea of correct portion size has gotten really out of line
• A typical restaurant portion of anything is often 2 to 3 times larger than what we need
• Don't clean your plate!
• Eat half your sandwich and save the other for tomorrow's lunch
• Just because it's a salad doesn't mean you should eat the whole thing as many dressings are extremely fatty
• A serving of meat should be no larger than a deck of cards - only 3 oz - which is extremely rare to find
• Many meal portion sizes should fit in 1 to 2 cups - if it's any larger - take the rest home or leave it on your plate. This may seem wasteful, but it's either going to the garbage or going to the hips!

• Eat! But be smart about what you eat.
• You don't have to be a health nut and you don't have to give up sweets
• But you need to eat more foods of healthy substance than you do of junk
• Following the eating often and eating small mentality helps to regulate the foods that you do eat
• Of course the more fruits, veggies and lean meats you eat, the better
• But, there is no need to deprive yourself as long as you are honest with yourself about how much of it you are eating
• It's great to make small, but healthier choices throughout the day. Go for the crackers instead of the cookie. Go for the nuts instead of the chips.

So start small and see where you end up!

What little things have worked for you in a BIG way?