| Staying on your diet can be a challenge for | | | | are a healthy, balanced start for your day. |
| anyone, but for a busy working mom the | | | | Most diets suggest that you drink at least eight 8 |
| challenges can be especially tough. A busy lifestyle | | | | ounce glasses of water a day. If the thought of |
| can make it impossible to get to the gym for a | | | | drinking a half gallon of water makes you queasy, |
| daily workout, prepare your meals ahead of time, | | | | there are ways to make it more appealing. Stock |
| or even to remember to pack your lunch for | | | | up on flavored bottled water in the fridge at work |
| work each day. Being in a rush can make it | | | | and keep one icy cold on your desk. At home, |
| difficult to stick to your diet when it's so easy to | | | | float mint sprigs or lemon slices in a crystal |
| grab something at the drivethrough. Here's a | | | | pitcher. There's no added calories, but oh what a |
| collection of hints and tips from other busy | | | | difference in presentation and flavor! |
| women that will help you stay on your diet | | | | Trying to lose baby weight can be frustrating. You |
| despite all the temptations. | | | | want to take it off as quickly as possible - but |
| Don't try to 'save time' by eating on the run, or | | | | your body may not be cooperative. Keep in mind |
| snacking at your desk while you work. No matter | | | | that your body is designed to nourish a child for |
| how rushed you are, take the time to eat like a | | | | up to a year after you give birth. Putting it on a |
| civilized human being, to quote my mother. Set | | | | starvation diet will kick it into survival gear, making |
| the table, put your food on a plate and have a | | | | it even harder to lose the extra weight. Instead |
| meal. You'll eat less and feel fuller - and not feel | | | | of fighting your body's natural tendency to store |
| the urge to snack because you 'haven't eaten | | | | up nutrition for the baby, eat healthy portions and |
| anything all day'. | | | | increase your activity level. And if you're |
| Cook just what will be eaten. Ignore all those | | | | breastfeeding, remember that your body needs |
| homemaker articles that suggest that you 'cook | | | | up to 1000 more calories a day than usual. Don't |
| for tomorrow' to save time. Cook one portion per | | | | skimp - you'll just convince your body that it's |
| person at each meal. That way you'll avoid the | | | | starving. |
| temptation to finish off the leftover - and teach | | | | Employ the buddy system for moral support. |
| your family healthy eating habits. | | | | Making a pact with a friend to exercise together |
| Get up early enough to eat breakfast at home. | | | | makes it easier to stick to your resolution. Instead |
| The morning rush to get ready may make it | | | | of meeting with friends for lunch, challenge friends |
| tempting to grab something on the way to work, | | | | to a tennis game, or take a brisk walk in the park |
| or skip breakfast entirely. Don't do it. You'll end up | | | | together. |
| eating up all that saved time - and a lot more | | | | Remember that a healthy, active lifestyle and a |
| calories - with midmorning trips to the snack | | | | nutritious diet are the true keys to losing weight |
| machine, or fight off the blahs all morning long. | | | | permanently. By choosing a diet that makes |
| Stock up on easy breakfast foods. A piece of | | | | sense for your lifestyle, you'll make it easier on |
| fruit, a container of yogurt and a slice of toast | | | | yourself to lose weight, and keep it off for good. |