6 Ways To Win the Battle

We can all use a little more help.

Losing weight seems to have tons of little potholes to catch us up and ruin our best efforts. This week, I have found five more little tricks to help us win the battle of controling our weight.

Learn to understand terminology. "Fat-Free" doesn't really mean that the item doesn not contain fat. According to the FDA, fat-free can contain up to 1/2 gram of fat per item. This can really add up over a 24 hour period if your diet contains several of the so-called fat-free products.

While all fruit is good for you and packed with all kinds of vitamins, some fruits will keep you full longer than others. My preferred choice is a banana. It is packed with potassium and instantly fills me up. Other choices that might appeal to you include pears, apples, plums, nectarines or papaya. Be sure to stock up at your first opportunity.

Get to know your fats. Apparently it is easier to lose weight if the fat you have consumed is of the healthy nature. The healthy fats include nuts, peanut butter, avocados and olive oils. The fats to stay away from are those found in butter and cheese. And wouldn't you know, I could happily live on cheese.

Personally it takes between ten and fifteen minutes for my body to acknowledge that it has been fed, so if I eat too quickly, I could be consuming a lot more calories than I mean to. To prevent this, I eat as slowly as I can. I once read about a group of monks who actually savored the flavor of every bite. Believe it or not, no conversation was allowed during mealtimes. When was the last time you did something like that?

Here is something you snackers are going to love... low fat hummus or bean dip. Either pick up a tub at the supermarket or make your own. You can then use it as a dip or spread for crackers. The fibre fills you up quickly and keeps you that way.