Diets don't work.....

" I tried every diet in the book. I tried some that weren't in the book. I tried eating the book. It tasted better than most of the diets." - Dolly Parton

As you know from reading about our journey, we are all committed to not only loosing weight, but to living a completely healthy lifestyle. Diets are only a quick fix, not a solution to your weight loss goals. I love it when i come across helpful tips to aid in not only weight loss, but for maintaining your goal weight after as well. I found this article recently and have been following these five rules. I promise they have made such a difference with my appetite, portion control, and cravings. I hope you find these suggestions as helpful as I did.

1. Break Leftovers Down Instead of using one large container to store leftovers such as casseroles, side dishes, or pasta, why not separate them into individually-sized containers? That way, when you reach in the fridge to find something to reheat, you're retrieving just enough for one helping. Breaking down meal-sized servings into single servings will help you limit your food intake with no additional effort.

2. Say Yes to Salads Eating a salad before lunch or dinner is a sure-fire way to keep from overeating. It will help curb your appetite and give you a sense of satiety sooner. Of course, we're not talking a little bit of iceberg lettuce here. To reap full portion control benefits from rabbit food, load up your salad with veggies or even lean meat like turkey cubes. The fiber in the veggies will help you feel fuller and lean meat's protein will give you an instant energy boost.

3. Keep Seconds Out of Sight Don't serve family meals family-style. Keep pots and dishes away from the table where it's all too easy to go for seconds. I can't tell you how many times I've rethought my second helpings as I've made my way from the table to the stovetop. I've often told myself to sit back down and wait it out. Remember, it takes about 20 minutes to feel satiated. By giving myself that "breather" I've realized I wasn't hungry enough for another helping after all.

4. Serving Standards Learn to "eyeball" standard portion sizes and stick to them when dining out or dishing up meals. Keep these tips in mind: 3 oz. of meat is the size of a deck of cards or an audio tape; 1 oz. of meat is the size of a matchbook; 1 cup of potatoes, rice or pasta looks like a tennis ball.

5. Treat Yourself And last, but not least ... indulge!
Treating yourself once in a while to a "forbidden" food will keep you from feeling deprived; a sense of deprivation can easily lead to overeating. Stop a binge before it starts by indulging every now and then. This is what your 35 flex points are for!!!

P.S. Don't you just LOVE Dolly Parton??