If you know you are going to go out to eat and its one of those places where you typically eat to much or order fatting food, then mentally prepare before hand.  That will help in two ways:

1. You can cut back on the calories before hand to help mitigate the extra calories at dinner and/or
2. Mentally prepare yourself to manage what you eat at dinner.  Maybe something a little lower fat from the menu.

My issues is with Mexican Food.  I love chips and salsa.  My problem is I can eat about 4 baskets of chip and salsa by myself.  So tonight I’m having dinner with friends at a Mexican restaurant so I’m mentally preparing myself to limit the chips and salsa and plan on ordering something ala cart from the menu.  I’ll let you know how this works out.

One thing to consider, don’t make your new healthful eating and unpleasant experience.  It a new lifestyle you are after.  So find a way to accomplish eating right and enjoy life at the same time.  It just takes a little work.

This is a facinating article and much like a plan I have executed.   It really works and make lots of practical sense.  The plan I have used is called Think Light.  It has a plan that includes recipes, menus, shopping list and day to day eating plans.  Mindless.  I need mindless when it comes to my eating habit.  It also trains you for a life time of proper eating.

However this aricle by BC Berrie is much like the think light plan.  Some quick excerpts from the article are:

1. Eat 6 to 7 times a day
2. Control Portions
3. Eat Breakfast every day
4. Manage your metobolism
5. Be mindful when eating
6. Drink lot of water
7. Wait before stepping on the scales
8. Spend less time each week being sedentary (exercise)
9. Keep your cup half full
10. Supplement smart eating (Vitamins)
11. Choose whole grains
12. Say "no thanks" to empty calories

To read the detail of the these 12 steps and the entire article Click here.

There are a couple of points the Think Light plan proposes beyond BC’s article.  Slow Carbs, not No Carbs.  Slow carbs, the ones that give you sustain energy and have load of fiber are extremely health and make you feel strong to get the exercise you need to have a well balanced healthy life.  The other point Think Light talks about is high Fiber.  Eat and Orange rather than drink Orange juice.

Please leave your comments here or on Twitter.com/rocknrod I would love to discuss this in depth with you

I’ve been running for over 30 years now and no mater how good or bad the shape I’m in the major difference maker is the fuel I put in me.

There are 1000’s of books out there that will tell you absolutely that you must eat Protein or Slow Carbohydrates, or No Carbohydrates, or Atkins’s diet or South Beach, you name it, someone has written about it.

However, from my experience, the key is eat plants with moderate amounts of meats (God gave us K-9s for a reason).  Limit the amount of processed foods.  Fresh fruits and veggie are the ticket.  I personally prefer sow carbohydrates (pastas, rice, etc).  Increase Fiber, a good poop is always a good idea.  Modest amounts of wines or beer will help spice  your life.  And the biggest thing is not gorging yourself.  Eating 6 smaller meals a day. Small portions will leave you satisfied and never miserable.  This eating pattern also tends to limit the energy spikes during a day.

This is not meant to be a marketing campaign for a diet but this plan worked for me.  Think Light.

Others have had great success with Weight Watchers.  There are many.  You can subscribe to this Healthful Eating RSS feed if you need a steady diet of information on nutrition and healthful eating.

The old saying “we are what we eat” is one of the most important statements related to our active lives.  Take heed!