Another Bathing Suit Season

Have you tried yours on yet? I did. It fits, but I kept my coverup on the whole time we were at the pool. I am putting up some advice from Prevention and Self magazines. Not for exercises or diets, but for positive, slimmer thinking. Being healthy and losing weight is all about the attitude. It's also a battle. So if we don't care, the fat wins!

"12 Ways to Think Slim" by Marisa Cohen, Self , June 2011 (my comments)

1. Food is not a trophy - reward yourself another way (put it on your blog and get sweet feedback!)
2. Look at the dessert menu on a full stomach, then you're less likely to overindulge.
3. "Diet" foods aren't always - many times they're just smaller portions (huh, that's what I try to do when I diet anyway, smaller portions!)
4. Use the oxygen-mask rule - we worry about our kids eating healthy, then are too tired to do the same for ourselves. So make one more serving of what the kids are having for you.
5. Don't sway - just because she's thinner than you, don't copy her order, make your own healthy choice and stick with it
6. Don't let splurges become habit - if you splurge for a long weekend or vacation, your body gets used to it and it's harder to go back. Watch yourself.
7. Menus are eye candy - restaurants entice you with their descriptions, don't be fooled into thinking something is healthy by the sound of it (remember "too good to be true?")
8. Nothing is free - I have said this before, if it's free of something, it's got more of something else.
9. Don't eat it "because it's there" - someone's birthday at work, free donuts for a meeting; all so tempting, try to hold back (I gave in the other day and had a donut, and it was gooooood. Oh, sorry. I regret it now.)
10. If it's sweet but not fruit, it's not breakfast (I hate this rule, though it's true. I try to satisfy my need for sweet with a nutrigrain waffle, no syrup. They're grrrreat!)
11. Fad rhymes with bad - here is an awesome rule for diets: if you can't get what you need at your grocery store or eat at a restaurant you probably won't stick with it
12. The more you sleep, the less you eat - not to say nap your day away, but get more sleep at night. If you're up late, odds are you'll get hungry again

And a little more advice from Prevention, April 2011.
First...
"...people who smelled green apple, banana or peppermint several times a daily lost an average of 30 lbs in 6 months." (anybody got some green apple lip balm?)

And second, here are some natural ways to help fight what might be bothering you:
> Have less energy? You might need B12, found in meats and fortified cereal
> Have achy joints? You might need Manganese and Copper, found in nuts, beef & spinach, but might need supplement
> Have less memory? You might need Omega 3, reduce refined and processed food, eat more fish
> Have higher blood pressure? You might need Potassium, reduce sodium, eat more fruits and veggies