From the category archives:

Diet Tips

4 Tips to Stay on Your Diet Plan Without Becoming a Social Outcast

It’s very exciting when you first start out on your journey to live a healthier lifestyle and it can become the focus of most of you free thinking throughout the day.

You’re okay with this because you’ve already recognized the dedication it’s going to take to reach your ultimate goal of healthy living.  The problem is, your friends and family seem to be a little stand-offish towards you.  Keep reading to get a better understanding of why this happens and what you can do to change it.

Tone it Down a Little

Okay, so you’re revved up about you new found discipline and outlook on life.  You want to share your healthy living experiences with everyone you care about – after all, if you’re going to improve your own quality of life, wouldn’t it be selfish of you to let your friends and family continue on their misguided ways?  Nope…it wouldn’t be.

For one thing, some people are perfectly content being out of shape and unhealthy – therefore. it’s annoying to them when you’re constantly giving the the calorie count in everything their eating.

For another thing – some people really struggle to get to the point that you’re at.  They may not have the dedication that your presently so excited about and your constant chatter about how great living healthy is simply depresses them.

So, continue on your happy way to health and fitness, but don’t force your views on the people you care about.  If someone else brings it up and expresses genuine interest in getting your advice, by all means, unleash it on them.  But until that moment, keep it to yourself.

Don’t Dwell

If you’re at a sticking point in your healthy living program and you want to binge on every greasy plate that passes in front of you during ladies night out, don’t project your longings and temptations on others.  Either order the junk food or don’t, but don’t carry on a 5 minute monologue about how you want to but you really shouldn’t.

Politely Decline and Make Plans for Another Time

If all of your friends are planning a big gathering at your favorite restaurant, but you’re sure that you shouldn’t go because the memories of greasy appetizers and sugary desserts may be more then you can handle – don’t ask them to change the venue to accommodate your apprehensions.  Simply decline the offer and plan a later gathering at a more manageable establishment for you.

Oh, yes, and if you do accept the invitation and go anyway, please refer back to tips 1 and 2.

Keep a Healthy Balance

Finally, no matter how tempted you are to hang up the rest of your life in pursuit of healthy living, don’t do it.  That’s the point that healthy living becomes and unhealthy obsession.

So, if your friends start asking you questions like – “isn’t three hours a day a little much to be spending working out?”  Or, “do you even remember what chocolate tastes like?” – it may be time to evaluate your mindset.  If you determine that your slightly obsessed, just back off a little bit.  You’ll probably find that you’ll feel like a more complete person if you do.


Best Home Gym Suppliers Online

For the best home gym online you can't go past Bowflex Home Gyms. They have been best sellers for years and 1000's of happy customers can't be wrong. Buy direct and save!

   Best Seller  Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells
You have seen the informercials now get the dumbbells, Bowflex Selectech Dumbbells should be your only choice. They use the latest cutting edge technology and are again best sellers. Buy from Bowflex and save

Related posts on HomeGymJunkie.com

  1. 4 Ways to Avoid Dining Out Diet Disasters
  2. 3 Easy Ways To Change Bad Eating Habits

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4 Ways to Avoid Dining Out Diet Disasters

If you’re anything like me, you love to eat out!  For some reason, even the simplest meals seem to taste better when someone else does all the work in preparing them (maybe that’s an indicator of my cooking ability).  The problem is, when you’re trying to live a healthy lifestyle and avoid high fat high calorie foods, dining out can turn into a stressful event.

Don’t worry though, I’m here to help you get through a night out without falling off the healthy eating train altogether.  Below are just a few suggestions about how you can eat out, enjoy yourself and still maintain healthy eating habits.  Happy dining!

Leave your appetite at home

What?  I know what you’re thinking, “that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard – the reason I’m going out is to eat!” Am I right?  Perhaps I should word that a little more carefully – don’t arrive at the restaurant starving.

If you have a small healthy snack before you leave for your dinner date, you’ll be less inclined to order everything on the menu when you get there.  It’s the same philosophy behind the “don’t grocery shop on an empty stomach” advice.  The hungrier you are, the less control you’ll have.

Be Familiar With the Menu

If you can, look at an online menu or a takeout menu from the restaurant you’re planning to dine at.  Have an idea of what they offer and what you’d like to order before arriving to eat.  That way, you can avoid looking at the menu altogether, minimizing the temptation to order every greasy dish offered.

Save Your Cheat Meal

If you want to eat healthy for life, you have to cut yourself some slack.  You can’t expect to deprive yourself of all he foods you love and stick to it for any significant amount of time.

So, since in your infinite wisdom, you allow yourself a cheat meal or two a week, save that meal for a night that you have dinner plans.  By doing this, you’ll be able to eat what you want (within reason) and you won’t have to beat yourself up for it later.

Of course, I did say within reason.  A quick clarification on a cheat meal…when you hear fitness professionals talk about allowing yourself a cheat meal, they don’t mean that you should eat a 5 course meal of fried food and dessert to make up for all of your week’s cravings.

A cheat meal is still a fairly healthy meal with an unhealthy option added in.  For example, have a smothered chicken breast instead of a plain one or eat a plain chicken breast but have a piece of cake for dessert.  The point is to avoid totally pigging out during your cheat meals.

The Old Stand byes

When all else fails, if you’re eating out and your stomach is rumbling and every high calorie dish on the menu is calling your name, break out the old stand byes – chew some sugarless gum, drink a lot of calorie free beverages and eat a big serving of salad.  Hopefully these tricks will help you through the temptations unscathed.

Finally, if all of these tips and tricks don’t work and you find yourself binging on cheese fries and chocolate cake – don’t dwell on it.  One bad day doesn’t have to mark the end of your healthy living efforts.  So, get over it quickly and resume your healthy eating habits after that meal is done.


Best Home Gym Suppliers Online

For the best home gym online you can't go past Bowflex Home Gyms. They have been best sellers for years and 1000's of happy customers can't be wrong. Buy direct and save!

   Best Seller  Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells
You have seen the informercials now get the dumbbells, Bowflex Selectech Dumbbells should be your only choice. They use the latest cutting edge technology and are again best sellers. Buy from Bowflex and save

Related posts on HomeGymJunkie.com

  1. 3 Easy Ways To Change Bad Eating Habits
  2. 4 Tips to Stay on Your Diet Plan Without Becoming a Social Outcast
  3. 5 Bad Habits You Must Break If You Want to Get in Shape
  4. Sticking to a Workout Routine During the Holidays

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