| Whether you want to lose a lot of weight or a | | | | options, but planning is a must. |
| few extra pounds, you must change the way | | | | Q: I often feel like I don't have enough energy to |
| you think about food. | | | | get through the day. Does what I eat really make |
| By eating the proper foods in the proper amounts | | | | that big of a difference? |
| at the proper times you'll not only lose weight, | | | | A: Good eating habits lead to more energy, an |
| you'll keep it off. No fad diet can promise that! | | | | elevated immune system, fat loss and the desire |
| Below are answers to some of the most | | | | to exercise. What you eat directly impacts how |
| commonly asked questions from people who | | | | you look and feel. Eat nutritious food in the proper |
| want to lose weight. | | | | amounts at the right time and you will be very |
| Q: I would like to start losing weight, but where | | | | energetic and self confident. |
| do I start? | | | | Low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, fatigue, |
| A: Surrounding yourself with good food is critical | | | | mood swings and many other problems can be a |
| and that often means getting the junk food out | | | | direct result of poor eating habits. Eat nutritious |
| of the house. This is a big first step for anyone | | | | food in the proper amounts at the right time and |
| who wants to lose weight. | | | | feel the results. |
| Q: Not long after I start a diet, I begin to crave | | | | Q: I often overeat when I get stressed. What can |
| foods that I know I shouldn't eat. Will eating | | | | I do to fight this? |
| healthy ever get any easier? | | | | A: It is not uncommon to want to overeat when |
| A: It often takes most people years to get to | | | | stressed. This is why it's not a good idea to keep |
| the point of wanting to eat healthy. This is one of | | | | junk food in the house. It's a good idea, however, |
| the most important things you can do each day | | | | to keep healthy snacks around to help cope with |
| for your health. As you continue to put good | | | | stressful moments. |
| things in your body, your body will begin to crave | | | | Q: I find myself eating food at parties and when I |
| these good things more and more. After eating | | | | go out for a meal that I know I shouldn't eat. |
| well for an extended period of time, your body | | | | What can I do to help avoid this problem? |
| may reject old favorites. | | | | A: If you're going where you know you will be |
| Q: I start off the day eating healthy but often | | | | surrounded by food, a "preventative" meal is |
| end up eating things I know I shouldn't eat during | | | | recommended. Eat a meal an hour or two before |
| the day. What can I do? | | | | you go out to dinner. This often helps stop you |
| A: Planning is a big part of achieving the body you | | | | from snacking. Also, take some food with you if |
| desire. Each day before you leave your house | | | | there is not going to be anything nutritious to eat |
| you should try to make a plan for the day. If you | | | | nearby. This will help prevent you from |
| don't, there is a very good chance you will | | | | over-ordering and eating the entire bread basket. |
| consume too many calories from junk food. | | | | Q: I feel so guilty when I slip up and overeat or |
| Q: In planning my meals for the day, I often get | | | | eat some junk food. Does it throw my entire diet |
| overwhelmed. What's the general idea in planning a | | | | off? |
| healthy diet? | | | | A: There are going to be times when you |
| A: Try to get some protein, carbohydrates and | | | | overeat or eat some junk food. It's perfectly fine |
| fat at each snack and meal. This is the best way | | | | and very normal. Enjoy it. I use these overeating |
| to keep your body nourished and satisfied and | | | | moments as a motivator to exercise a little more |
| your blood sugar levels stable, which maximizes | | | | the next day. |
| the fat-loss process. | | | | Q: Do I have to exercise to lose weight? |
| Q: I understand it's better to eat several small | | | | A: You do not need to exercise to lose weight. |
| meals during the day rather than just two or | | | | Eat fewer calories than your body burns and you |
| three big meals, but how often should I eat? | | | | will lose weight. If you eat more calories than |
| A: Eating every three hours helps keep your | | | | your body burns you will gain weight. Exercising is |
| blood sugar levels stable and helps prevent you | | | | highly recommended, but it is not necessary to |
| from over-eating when you do eat. It gets easier | | | | lose weight. If you are not exercising, you really |
| to eat this frequently as you discover more food | | | | need to closely watch what you are eating. |