But this year, it comes down to eliminating the scary ingredients and finding simple swaps that are going to add up in the end. If you want to drop that baby weight, holiday weight or sitting-on-your-butt-at-work weight, follow these no-fail tips:
Hide From HFCS
High-fructose corn syrup: It's not a fruit, and it's not corn. It's a chemical cocktail that the body doesn't know what the hell to do with. Know what happens to stuff the body can't find a use for? It gets stored in your fat cells and overburdens your liver, lady. Choose spices, sauces and dressings that don't contain the dreaded HFCS. Try organic spices (we love Teeny Tiny Spice Co.), quality hot sauces (try All Spice Café) and dressings made of vinegars, spices and oils - not sugar, salt and other junk.
caloriesCalorie Shmalorie
How many 100-calorie packs of junk does it take to fill up your trunk? Not very many. True, portion control is a vital tool for weight loss, but that doesn't mean you get to eat crap in a bag. The quality of nutrients and a balance of the right nutrients do more to ensure you lose weight and keep it off. When we go "low cal," hunger and boredom set in. We end up eating again sooner, consuming more calories and getting less nutrition than if we made nutrient-balanced choices to begin with. Aim for a serving each of carbs, protein and fat. It may seem like more calories, but it's going to give you sustained energy - we're talking three hours.
Remember, weight loss isn't a sprint to an imaginary finish line, so fuel up right now and you'll have the energy to keep at it every day.
dietDitch the Diet Drinks
You think you're so tricky. You get sweet taste, caffeine and bubbly without paying the price, right? Wrong. Ditch the chemicals that irritate the body and fill you up without any real fuel. If you want something other than water but with no or minimal calories, try a flavored sparkling water (we love Ayala's Herbal Water) or soda alternative. If you need your energy fix, choose an organic energy shot (like Celestial Seasonings K Shots), which gives you some carbs for quick energy, and pair it with a handful of nuts. Another thing? Don't ever put caffeine in a body without any nutrients, as it's like revving an engine without any gas in the car. Eeeeek!
Even better? Grab an organic greens juice (kale, spinach, cucumber, romaine, lemon, ginger) which helps remove toxins, gives you energy and alkalinizes your digestive tract to reduce bloat and sugar cravings.
drinkDrink Purposefully (What Size Do You Want to Be?)
Looking to be larger? We thought not. But if you're ordering beverages the size of your head, you're right on track to the next dress size up. A portion size of a non-dairy beverage is 6-8 ounces. (For booze, aim for even less.) Look for "plain" and "unsweetened" on your labels to avoid extra sugar. A juice serving is 4 ounces - not the bottle size you grab at the store. So whether you're making a smoothie at home, ordering a glass of wine or getting your morning latte, make sure to order for the size you want to be: small. Easy solution? Get smaller glasses or mugs for your house or daily commute.
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