7 Ways To Stay Motivated While Dieting

Diet is a dirty word for most people. Many people start a diet only to quit after just a few days or maybe a few weeks. Staying motivated to diet is difficult as you think that eating that one cookie is fine until you slip up and then become derailed both physically and mentally.

If you are truly ready to start a diet and are looking for ways to stay motivated here are seven things that you can do in order to make sure your diet is a success.

1. Set Goals that are Realistic

The most important thing that you need to do when starting a diet is to make sure that the goals that you set are realistic. If you set your goal to lose 30 pounds within a month or two, you are setting yourself up for failure. You are going to be more successful with a diet if you focus on your health and create eating strategies that are sensible.

2. Go Slow

Making changes to your lifestyle is difficult and you want to make sure that you give yourself time to adjust. Start out slowly. Consider cutting out just 200 calories per day from your diet. If you do this you will lose between one and two pounds a week, which is a healthy weight loss that can be sustained over time.

3. Expect Set backs

Remember, at some point you are going to give in to your temptations. Allow for this. Treating yourself to a hot fudge sundae or other favorite desert every once in a while is okay. Remember, dieting is about moderation - one slip up does not mean that you have failed.

4. Remember You Are Not Perfect

So, you had a rough morning and then you eat a pint of ice cream for lunch. An indulgence is just an indulgence and you need to move on from it. One of the biggest problems that people have is thinking that the only way they are going to succeed is if they stick to their diet perfectly. They think that making a mistake means that they have failed and this causes them to give up entirely. The bottom line is when you screw up, forget about it and remember tomorrow is a new day.

5. Find a Friend

The people that succeed at losing weight almost always have a partner. If you are married try to get your spouse on board with you. Find a friend to help motivate you to stay on track. If no one in your life is currently ready to start a healthier lifestyle consider one of the many online programs that are available. These sites will provide you with support from outsiders that are on the same mission as you are. When you have a bad day you record it and the group will help you move on from it.

6. Reward Yourself

Going on a diet is hard and it is not always all that fun. A small reward can be a great incentive to keep going. Do not use food as a reward though. Consider a massage after losing five pounds or something else that you enjoy. Perhaps you want a night out with some friends or a great new pair of jeans. Celebrating your achievements throughout the process can be a great way to help you stay on track.

7. Create a Maintenance Plan

For most people, losing weight is the easy part it is keeping the weight off that is difficult. The most important thing to remember is that healthy eating should be a life-long goal and not just a one-time project to meet your goals. If losing weight and keeping it off has been a problem in the past make sure to devise a maintenance plan before you start. Sometimes consulting an expert is the best way to create a diet and exercise plan that will work for you.

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Summer Recipes for Kids

Summer is the time when the kids are at home and when the mothers have to rack their brains to feed them with sumptuous food. The growing up kids are always hungry and pine for good and delicious food. Here are a few recipes that you can make for your kids to satiate their hunger and keep their energy going this summer.

Fresh Peach Cobbler

Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup sugar
2. 6 large peaches, cut in thin slices
3. 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
4. 1 tsp cornstarch

Biscuit Topping

1. 1/2 cup sugar
2. 1 cup flour
3. 1/2 tsp salt
4. 3/8 cup butter, cut into pieces
5. 1 tsp baking powder
6. 1/4 cup boiling water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 190 degree Celsius. In a baking dish, mix the sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch and peaches. In bowl, sieve flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Rub in the butter to make the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Now blend well with boiling water to make a batter like consistency. Pour this into a baking dish and top with peaches. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or till the top is golden brown.

Margarita Chicken

The chicken is wonderful served hot off the grill, but it also tastes great cold or at room temperature. Serve it sliced and tossed into a salad of mixed baby lettuces. This dish is liked by both kids and adults and is great dish for summer entertaining.

Ingredients

1. 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2. Fresh lime juice, from about 4 limes
3. Zest from one lime
4. 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
5. 2 cloves garlic, mashed
6. 1 teaspoon chili powder
7. Salt and pepper as per your taste
8. 1/4 cup olive oil

Directions

Place all ingredients in a large zip top plastic bag. Squish to combine. Add chicken, seal bag, and turn to coat. Refrigerate for one hour or overnight.Coat grill pan with cooking spray. Heat pan to medium-high. Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side, turning breast a quarter turn after two minutes if cross hatch marks are desired. Serve immediately with a mayonnaise dip or salad.

Chicken and Salad Wraps

A very easy dish that you can fix up in a jiffy with left over chicken. You can also fill your picnic basket with this summer recipe when you take kids out for a field trip.

Ingredients

1. 200g shaved chicken breast
2. 4 wholegrain wraps
3. 1 large carrot, peeled, grated
4. 60g baby spinach
5. 2 teaspoons lemon juice
6. 1 tablespoon whole-egg mayonnaise

Directions

In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, avocado and lemon juice. On your chopping board, place one of the wraps, spread the avocado mixture. Next top it with the shredded chicken, carrot and spinach. Season with salt and pepper.Gently roll the wrap to enclose the filling. Cut into three pieces. Repeat the same procedure with the remaining wraps.

This would make a great lunch time snack for kids during summer season.

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Weight Loss For Summer

Weight loss and summer seem to go hand in hand. Summer time is the time when people are headed towards the beaches and show of their well toned bodies, while soaking in the sun's rays. It is also perhaps the best time to get started when it comes to weight loss. There are several tips that you could follow when it comes to weight loss for summer.

For one you must begin almost immediately, as soon as the summer arrives. There is no point in waiting when it comes to weight loss for summer. You can for instance always join a neighborhood gym. In today's modern world, almost every neighborhood has a modern gym. Even if a gym were to be a bit far away from your home, you can always take up walking or cycling your way to the gym. This in itself would be a great way to loose weight.

You must also take care of what you eat during summer. You must for instance cut back on certain things that you know are not good for your weight problem. It does not mean that you should starve yourself. You need to avoid certain type of food items and instead substitute them with healthy food. Taking lots of fiber is the way to go. Go for plenty of servings of fruits and vegetables as part of your diet. Lean meat is also a must if weight loss for summer is your goal. Such a balanced diet would provide you with all the essential nutrients, while at the same time making you feel full and satisfying your hunger pangs.

Taking plenty of fluids is also an important part of a weight loss for summer program. You should drink plenty of water which will help you prevent dehydration. The body is known to loose water quickly during summers through sweat and it is therefore important that you constantly replenish your body with sufficient amounts of water from time to time.

Patience is one of the biggest factors that you will need in order to stick on to a weight loss for summer program. Remember overnight results are not possible when it comes to losing weight. You will therefore need to be patient and stick on to a regulated diet and exercise program. Whatever may be the fitness regimen that you have chosen, whether it is weight training or aerobics, jogging or simple walking, you must make a firm commitment that you would stick on to it, till you achieve your weight loss for summer goals.

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