Some people never diet and there’s good reason for it. “Diets don’t work — they fail all the time,” says registered dietitian and board-certified specialist in nutritional and metabolic medicine, Carla Heiser. Here are the 10 healthy eating habits your diet-eschewing friends live by — without having to think about them.
Every day isn’t a special occasion
Office doughnuts, a decadent restaurant meal, cake at a friend’s birthday party; these events happen so regularly that it’s easy to justify any day as splurge-worthy. While occasional treats are must-haves, your diet as a whole is what keeps your weight steady, says Heiser. So choose your treats wisely and cut out the rest. Maybe split a crème brûlée with your partner on date night, but pass on the cookies at the meeting during the day. Or celebrate your birthday with cake, but not everyone’s.
Don’t waste time on diet food
Foods with low-fat or low-calorie labels sound good in theory. The problem is that these are often heavily processed and high in carbs. ‘These will convert to sugar in your body, potentially contributing to weight gain,’ says Heiser. What’s more, companies enhance these products after removing fat by pumping them with sugar, salt and other additives. ‘Women who don’t diet are still reading ingredient labels,’ says Lori Shemek, PhD, author of the forthcoming book Fight FAT flammation. But they do that to cut through the tricky health claims splashed across the front of the package to find out what’s really in the food.
No food is ‘bad’
It doesn’t pay to refer to brownies as ‘bad’ and kale as ‘good.’ In a University of Toronto study, women who were deprived of chocolate for a week experienced more cravings and were more likely to eat more chocolate. A later 2010 studyconfirmed the results: If you tell yourself you can’t have chocolate and try not to think about chocolate, you obsess over… chocolate. It ties back to thinking you’re a dieting failure, which makes you feel guilty and overeat as a result. For a happier relationship with food, ditch ‘bad’ from your vocabulary.
Get your beauty rest
When you’re busy, the first thing that takes a hit is sleep. But if you want to maintain a healthy BMI, research is showing that sleep takes top priority. In fact, on days when you’re sleep deprived and you have to choose between an extra hour of shuteye or waking up early to work out, Dr. Shemek suggests snoozing. ‘Lack of sleep has hormonal effects that create weight gain and alter your appetite to prefer high-calorie foods. Besides, you won’t have the energy to exercise effectively,’ she says.
Let yourself off the hook
You’ve just eaten a cheeseburger and polished off the fries. Even if it wasn’t reflective of your healthy eating goals, forgive yourself and move on, promising to eat better at the next meal. Self-compassion can lead to a better relationship with food and a healthier BMI, reveals new research from the University of Waterloo in Canada. Lower self-esteem may lead to disordered eating (like bingeing) that causes weight gain. ‘Treat yourself like you treat a loved one: with encouragement and affirmation,’ says Dr. Shemek.
Avoid diet drinks
Artificial sweeteners are controversial. While some studies show that they don’t affect weight, other research suggests that calorie-free drinks may cause weight gain by stimulating hunger. Dr. Shemek advises avoiding them completely. ‘Diet drinks set the brain up for wanting more sugar, and many people get addicted to them,’ she says. Plus, ordering a diet drink can make you think you’re saving calories there, so you might as well get the mac and cheese instead of a salad.
Experiment in the kitchen
Healthy eating is never boring if you’re jazzing up your meals with herbs and spices. They amplify any dish’s flavour and replace fat while still being just as satisfying, says research from the University of Colorado in Denver. And adding spices like red pepper flakes and cayenne has been shown to boost metabolism, helping you burn a few extra calories from your meal. So add a dash of smoked paprika in place of butter on steamed broccoli. Rather than plain roasted chicken breast, sprinkle on a variety of dried herbs, garlic powder, and chilli flakes. Bon appetit.
Don’t count calories
There’s a huge difference between how your body uses 1,000 calories of junk food and 1,000 calories of whole foods, says Heiser. Getting wrapped up in calorie counts could make you deny yourself calorie-dense, yet nutritious, foods like fatty fish, avocado, oils like olive and coconut, nuts, and dark chocolate. Focus on filling your plate with real foods with an emphasis on protein (fish, chicken, tofu), vegetables, and a source of healthy fat. Well-rounded meals coupled with heeding your hunger cues can keep you at a healthy weight, she says.
Eat sugar smartly
Sugar is simply not good for you. ‘Your body can only handle so much at one time. If you overdo it, you store it as fat,’ says Heiser. But that doesn’t mean you should cut it out completely. ‘Figure out what your body can handle,’ she says. Do you feel tired and bloated after a few cookies? Based on your reaction, you’ll know if you should cut back. After all, food is supposed to make you feel great—and any woman who doesn’t diet knows that.
From: Elle UK
