The Best Diets To Lose 20 Pounds Quickly - Updated
Losing weight can be as difficult psychologically as it is physically. It can become a struggle if we have to make family meals; eating our own meagre diet whilst still having to prepare tempting fare for the others. How can we improve our lot, and continue to please the family?
First off we need to tackle the amount we eat. Whatever food we consume, if we take in less of it we'll lose weight. It's pleasing to see a plateful of food at the beginning of our meal - so eat from one that's smaller than everyone else's. Eat your food very slowly, chewing every morsel at least twenty times before swallowing. You won't always finish your meal ahead of the others then, but you will feel more sated.
Most family meals can be eaten when you're dieting, if you restrict the amount of fat and carbohydrate on your plate. Make up for it with lots of vegetables. And avoid the temptation of crusty bread! For seconds, think carefully before you indulge yourself. A small baked apple is fine - simply leave out the custard or cream.
But you can get much cannier than that. Serve reduced calorie meals a couple of times a week to everyone - if they're done well they won't have a clue! Add garlic and herbs to macaroni, and bulk it out with plenty of veg. Then use a tin of tomatoes to enrich the sauce. Leave out the oil, but maybe add a touch of Greek yoghurt for creaminess.
At the supermarket or store, always choose low fat meat and dairy products. After a while, your family will get used to these healthier products and enjoy them just as much. Breast of chicken or turkey is a good choice, especially if you eat it without the skin. Boil or steam potatoes rather than frying. Maris Piper is one variety that has a good waxy consistency. There's no need to add high calorie spreads or butter then.
Watch out for breakfast cereals - some are loaded with sugar so always read the ingredients before buying. Cereal bars are best avoided too - they look like a healthy snack, but most are incredibly sweet. We also probably consume a load of hidden calories in our drinks. Choose sodas with artificial sweeteners, and make them last longer than usual by adding ice.
When socialising, alcohol really increases our calorific intake. Iced tea can make a refreshing change and is a good thirst quencher. Serve your drinks in wine glasses so they still feel more sophisticated.
Clearly, we can't keep consuming the same things and expect to drop the weight. Although the odd bit of fine-tuning can work wonders to help things along.
First off we need to tackle the amount we eat. Whatever food we consume, if we take in less of it we'll lose weight. It's pleasing to see a plateful of food at the beginning of our meal - so eat from one that's smaller than everyone else's. Eat your food very slowly, chewing every morsel at least twenty times before swallowing. You won't always finish your meal ahead of the others then, but you will feel more sated.
Most family meals can be eaten when you're dieting, if you restrict the amount of fat and carbohydrate on your plate. Make up for it with lots of vegetables. And avoid the temptation of crusty bread! For seconds, think carefully before you indulge yourself. A small baked apple is fine - simply leave out the custard or cream.
But you can get much cannier than that. Serve reduced calorie meals a couple of times a week to everyone - if they're done well they won't have a clue! Add garlic and herbs to macaroni, and bulk it out with plenty of veg. Then use a tin of tomatoes to enrich the sauce. Leave out the oil, but maybe add a touch of Greek yoghurt for creaminess.
At the supermarket or store, always choose low fat meat and dairy products. After a while, your family will get used to these healthier products and enjoy them just as much. Breast of chicken or turkey is a good choice, especially if you eat it without the skin. Boil or steam potatoes rather than frying. Maris Piper is one variety that has a good waxy consistency. There's no need to add high calorie spreads or butter then.
Watch out for breakfast cereals - some are loaded with sugar so always read the ingredients before buying. Cereal bars are best avoided too - they look like a healthy snack, but most are incredibly sweet. We also probably consume a load of hidden calories in our drinks. Choose sodas with artificial sweeteners, and make them last longer than usual by adding ice.
When socialising, alcohol really increases our calorific intake. Iced tea can make a refreshing change and is a good thirst quencher. Serve your drinks in wine glasses so they still feel more sophisticated.
Clearly, we can't keep consuming the same things and expect to drop the weight. Although the odd bit of fine-tuning can work wonders to help things along.
About the Author:
(C) Scott Edwards. Look at WeightLossDietWar.com for great diet advice on loose fat and lose 10 pounds.