But, healthy eaters don't forbid certain foods. They often don't even follow a particular kind of diet; they simply give themselves the choice of whether they'll eat healthy or not. Each time they choose a healthy meal, it becomes easier to make that healthy choice the next time around.
It sounds strange but knowing you can have anything you want allows you to make a choice. You're in charge instead of being at the mercy of your cravings or emotions, and that's when you'll feel the most empowered. You can learn more moderation by:
- Keeping a food journal. Keeping a journal will make you aware of your eating habits as well as times you could make different, healthier choices.
- Planning your treats. Being healthy and losing weight doesn't mean you only get to eat tree bark and lemon wedges. You're still allowed to have pizza, brownies or a burger now and then. The trick is the "now and then" part. Planning for your treats will allow you to work those extra calories in so that you don't sabotage yourself. If you know you're having pizza on Friday, you can plan on a lighter lunch or a longer workout to help deal with those extra calories.
- Make small changes. Giving up everything at once is not only tough, it's a little scary. Rather than change everything in one day, choose one thing to work on: eating a better breakfast or replacing your afternoon Coke with a cup of tea. Work on that one thing until you've perfected it, then move on to the next.
