Diet Wreckers You Won't Find on a Menu

When I write about weight loss, most of the time I stick to how to change your lifestyle and make healthier food choices. However, I would be remiss to not add some nonfood items that can make or break your diet.

Lights: Candlelight dinners are very romantic, and once in a while they are pleasant. However, lack of light can increase the number of calories consumed by a significant amount. Studies indicate that eating in a well lit room is a much better choice. Save the candles for special occasions when calories are the last thing on your mind.

Location: A lot of us eat at least one meal at a desk while doing other things. Some of us eat two or more meals that way. Due to a hectic schedule and our fast paced lives, this meal usually comes from a fast food place or the lunch truck; neither of which are well known for serving low calorie, healthy foods. Eating in front of the television is another dietary no-no.

You can get around both of these problems without significantly changing your schedule, at least as far as eating at work goes. We use frozen meals from the low calorie/low fat section of that particular aisle. They aren't perfect, but they are a lot better than a burrito or burger.

As far as eating in front of the television, there are two approaches. One is to avoid storing snacks in the room, as it makes it far to easy to graze without paying attention to what and how much you're eating. The other is to have, in the kitchen, healthy already prepared snacks. We enjoy celery, carrots, peas and tomatoes along with a light or fat free dressing. Air popped popcorn may also be good.

Plate Size: The next time you eat out, look at the size of the plates being used to serve you. Many restaurants serve a turkey platter sized plate loaded with enough food for two or three people. If you eat that on a regular basis, you will have difficulties in the weight department. The same is true at home, the size of your plate often determines how much food you consume. The subconscious mind prefers to see a full plate.

When eating out, divide the meal in half and take the second half home for another meal. While eating at home, choose small plates over the larger ones and you will find yourself consuming far less food.

Serving Size: Prepared foods are required to have nutrition labels on them, but even that can be deceiving. Take a 20 oz bottle of soda pop. Most of these bottles contain more than two servings, but the information on the label is for only one serving. This can throw your calculations off if you don't notice it.

Television: If you've noticed the number of fast food commercials jumps up after about five o'clock, you're right. From about five p.m. to 11 p.m., we're vulnerable. It's been a long, tiring day and cooking dinner is not on the top hundred list. Or, we've eaten already but it's about time for a snack and that pizza is calling our name. Don't listen to this siren, she will destroy your diet.

Instead, follow the suggestions under eating location. Have already prepared or frozen snacks that fit your calorie budget. You may also want to record programs and play them back so that you can fast forward through them.

Losing weight is not an easy undertaking, and things that can sabotage even the best efforts abound. However, with will power and attention to the details above, you may be able to find a means to get healthy and stay that way.

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