Right on, fellow CookingBites members!
I've dieted twice throughout my life (Im going to be 31 this coming October) & as a foodie at heart, I'll admit it was one of the hardest things I've ever attempted. However, it seems to have worked, because I managed to keep the weight off (the first time I had to diet, it was in order to gain weight, rather than lose it).
Here's my approach to things when dieting to shed pounds (this may turn out to be a bit of a longer post, but if it makes dieting a bit easier for anyone that chooses to read it, I'll be happy I included all I did!) with a few good low calorie recipes attached. I wish you each much luck, l know you CAN do it!
First & foremost, before a dieter thinks about the foods they are going to avoid or try to eat more of, I've always believed that they should think about their body & where it currently stands. Meaning, before you start doing so, make sure your body is ready & prepared to diet. Major changes in your eating-habits & routines should ideally only be made when a person is well-rested, fairly healthy, & in a good mindset. Dieting can be a stressful undertaking and can cause more harm than good if done in the wrong ways!
Additional to watching what we eat, there are of course many other factors that contribute to a successful diet, like: daily excercise, whether it be a full workout at a gym, a game of catch with your little one, or even just a walk around the block after all day at that desk... then there is keeping the body hydrated & flushed with a continuous flow of water throughout the day & evening (an easy alternative to filling up a water-glass 6-8 times a day getting yourself a sturdy, reuseable waterbottle & keeping it with you at all times... to add some flavour, add a squeeze or two of fresh lime or lemon juice to it), avoiding temptation (favorite fast food haunts, bad influences, junk food purchases), keeping healthy snacks around for those times you get 'snackish', instead of candy or salty/fatty foods, & of course keeping busy & keeping your stress levels down, using your brain, dancing, singing, having sex (all of these things are beneficial for a happy body, & they also burn calories!)... etc.
It's also important not to change too much all at once when dieting & to work slowly in to things... your body will adapt to the changes more easily and will respond better to your plan of action.
Now, we get to the real bones of the FOOD part of things. Of course, eating less is a given, but... some tricks & tips for this include: using a smaller serving plate or bowl when eating in order to make your servings of food seem larger & therefore more filling, sipping water with & throughout your meals, taking smaller bites while eating, eating several small meals throughout your day & evening rather than 3 regular sized ones (this dieting technique has been called the 'grazing method', hehe), etc.
As far as WHAT to eat goes, let's just basically say that we want to try replacing as much of the UNNECCESARY carbs, sugars, & fats that you eat on a daily basis, with as many 'good foods' as possible. So, here are some examples: instead of white breads, pastas & rices, opt for brown or wild rice, wholegrain breads, or multigrain pastas. Lay off the frying pan for frying & start using it to braise (cook in liquid... which can be water, broth, etc.) ingredients or meals. Swap full-fat butter for margarine. Instead of ice cream or that honkin' slice of cheese or devil's foodcake for dessert, whip yourself up a nice bowl of vanilla yogurt topped with a handful of frozen bluberries, or maybe try some chocolate Jell-O pudding & sliced fruit. When snacking, don't open a bag of potato chips & crack a can of soda, open a box of your favorite crackers & a container of your favorite low fat dip or hummus, & pour yourself a glass of homemade, low-sugar lime-ade. When buying vegetables, choose ones that you ENJOY, because otherwise you won't eat them (good veggies to eat while dieting, & at any other time really, are dark green ones (like romaine lettuce, brussels sprouts, spinach, broccoli, kale, etc.) & orange ones (sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, etc).
When making lunch or dinner, aim for roughly 2/3 of your plate to consist of your vegetables & protein (instead of a well marbled steak, have a poached salmon fillet with a squeeze of lemon juice chopped fresh dill weed- salmon is also one of the 'super foods' we are now hearing so much about), & the other 3rd to consist of your starches or carbs. Also, dieting is when herbs, seasonings & condiments can be a godsend. You can add a ton of flavour with very little extra added salt, sugar or fat when utilizing something like a good bottle of hot sauce or a handful of fresh, chopped basil or mint. Experimentation is key here, have fun with things: a diet can be fun and interesting if you make it so. It can actually be a culinary adventure of sorts!
As for a low-cal' favorite dish or some low-cal' snack recipes, here are a few of my former go to's:
-Caramelized Cabbage & Onion Soup: http://www.livevegan.org/index.php/meatout-mondays/item/caramelized-cabbage-onion-soup#.Vt1WZb1E3Q8
-Kale & Cashew Salad: http://www.chatelaine.com/recipe/salads/superfood-salad-with-creamy-cashew-dressing/
-Vietnamese Glass Noodle Salad with Shrimp: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/...ese-shrimp-and-glass-noodle-salad-recipe.html
-Baked Sweet Potato 'Fries': http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Healthy-Sweet-Potato-Fries-34184453
Good luck to all of the dieters, and I hope your journey goes as smoothly as it can. We are all here cheering for you!
Thank you for all the great information! This is really very helpful. I love learning as much as I can when it comes to weight loss and what works for different people. Thanks for attaching the recipes. I am definitely going to be giving them a try. It is so important to have variety so that you don't get bored with what you are eating.
