How To Get Slim With Healthy Eating Habits

Many women want to be slim. Maybe you're one of them. Perhaps you're getting married soon and you want to fit into your wedding gown comfortably. Or perhaps you simply want to look (and feel) great in a swimsuit or bikini.

Whatever your reason for wanting to be slim, there are some things you can do to become slim while staying healthy. If you are reading this article, chances are you want to know what those things are. Read on then, to find out.

First thing is to assess your current eating habits. This is important because you need to know what's not working. If your current eating habits are keeping you overweight, and you want to be slim, it figures that you need to change those eating habits. If something is not working, change it.

Assessing your current eating habits.

Keep a record of your eating habits for a week. The record should contain the following information:

  • What you are eating

  • How much you're eating

  • When you eat (note the times) ? you want to know how far apart your meals and snacks are.

  • Why you're eating at those times ? is it because you're hungry, or are you 'comfort eating'?

  • How you feel after eating ? pleasantly satisfied or bloated and stuffed.

  • How many glasses of water you drink each day

When you find out your current eating habits, you'll need to determine which habits are sabotaging your efforts to lose weight. Those are the ones you want to change. More on that later.

Goal Setting

Determine what your weight goal is. Or you may prefer to monitor your progress in terms of your waistline or hip measurements. Whichever one suits you is best.

Form a mental picture of yourself looking the way you want to look. Goals are more powerful and empowering when we visualize them. Hold that mental picture in your mind at all times.

NOTE: Eating healthily is not all there is to getting slim. You must become more physically active (read 'exercise') in addition to eating properly if you're to lose weight permanently. This article deals with the healthy eating part of that equation.

Action Plan

Now that you know what your ideal size is, you have a goal that you're working towards. You need to then determine a plan of action to help you achieve that goal.

To help you decide on the right plan, bear in mind that eating should be a pleasure. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Which nutritious foods do I enjoy eating ?

  • How soon after eating do I get hungry again? Most adults get hungry about 3 to 4 hours after eating a meal.

  • Do I eat only when I'm hungry? Hint: You should.

  • How can I stay full? Drink lots of water. Scientists recommend between 6 and 8 glasses of water daily. Your body needs it, and it helps you stay full.

With the answers to those questions in mind, form an action plan, and start a new daily record to help you keep track of your progress. This new record should contain the same columns as your initial current habits record. This way you can monitor each improvement and celebrate accordingly.

When deciding on which actions to take, you need to refer back to your initial assessment of your current eating habits. Decide which habits are preventing you from losing weight. Write down alternative habits that you want to cultivate, which will help you get slim.

These new habits you want to form are now your 'targets' ? milestones on your way to your ideal body shape and size.

Taking Action

To form healthy eating habits, start with small changes.

Don't make too many changes at once. Set yourself main targets, such as 'I will drink 8 glasses of water each day', then set smaller targets to help you reach each main target.

Using the example above, a small target could be 'I will drink an extra glass of water after each meal'. When you break down your targets, they don't seem so daunting. They seem easily achievable, so you feel encouraged to stick to them.

Decide on the foods you will be eating regularly. Make sure they're foods you enjoy.

Eat small portions, about 5 or 6 times each day, instead of three large meals. This helps keep your metabolic rate high, and helps you lose weight naturally.

How to stay motivated to continue eating healthily

  • Believe that you can do it, and accept responsibility for your health and for the way your body looks.

  • Reward yourself each time you successfully complete a small target. Celebrate each small success ? don't wait until you've lost tons of weight before you reward yourself. Make the journey enjoyable by treating yourself each time you make progress.

  • Keep in mind what you hope to achieve ? remind yourself of how lovely and healthy your body is becoming each day as a result of your new eating habits. Remember, each small step in the right direction is bringing you closer to your main target.

    With a clear goal in mind, a feasible action plan and tips to help you stay motivated, you should find it easy to form habits that keep you slim and healthy at the same time.

    Here's to your new healthy eating habits!

    About The Author

    Ruth Hinson is a successful slimming consultant. She helps women lose weight safely and healthily using the SlymRyte Healthy Eating Plan ?. Visit www.slymryte.co.uk for more information.

    To receive a FR*EE report titled 'Get Slim, Stay Slim', please send a blank email to slymryte@blueyonder.co.uk with the words 'free report' in the subject line and your first name in the body of the email.

    You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. Please print the article in its entirety unchanged and notify the author by email when you use it.

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Resist that Snack Attack and Keep Your Diet on Track

    When on a diet, snack attacks can hit hard and... Read More

    Are You Confused By All The Different Diets? Heres A Quick Diet Comparison

    It would not be surprising to hear your answer is... Read More

    Hybrid Sweeteners in Todays Health

    What is the advantage of these new half sugar and... Read More

    The Tao of Weight Watchers Part Two

    As I explained in the first part of this article,... Read More

    Doubts About Gastric Bypass? One Womans Final Effort to Lose Weight Without Surgery

    One may think that on a website called "LivingAfterWLS" you... Read More

    LapBand Surgery. The Rules of the Road...Part 1

    When you begin the decision making process to have Weight... Read More

    Help me, Im Addicted to Sugar

    A client wrote, "Help me! I thought I was finally... Read More

    Two Words That Guarantee Success (or failure) When Planning To Lose Weight

    Did you know that being successful with losing weight starts... Read More

    Lose Weight & Achieve A Healthy Metabolism By Balancing And Adjusting Your Meals

    How many meals do you eat in one day?Close study... Read More

    Will I get faster results with a Personal Trainer?

    If you pick the right personal trainer?you'll most definitely see... Read More

    5 Easy Steps to Help You Lose Weight

    When losing weight, most of us don't have the time... Read More

    Nothing More Powerful Than Your Words

    Telling yourself you have to "struggle with this weight issue... Read More

    Why Breakfast is Good for You

    Ok... If you are reading this is because you do... Read More

    Fast Weight Loss - Can You Really Lose 60lbs in 30 Days?

    Fast Weight Loss - Is it better to lose 2lbs... Read More

    Supersizing America

    For some of us, food is warmth and love. We... Read More

    Food Cravings: Use EFT to Learn Patience

    Food Cravings: How to Practice PatienceDuring holidays and parties you... Read More

    Take Anything... Just Leave My Coffee Alone!

    The pursuit of a healthier me (or you) shouldn't involve... Read More

    Dropping The Carbs - The Pros and Cons of Ketogenic Dieting

    We must all now be familiar with the Atkins Diet.... Read More

    Low Carb Diets: Craze or Crazy?

    Low carb diets, though popular, have met with much controversy.... Read More

    Heel Pain and Obesity: The Chicken or the Egg?

    A new survey has found that heel pain caused by... Read More

    Healthy Diet Answers: Want Fries With That Mister ?

    Yes, my healthy diet has at times suffered at the... Read More

    Fat Loss Exercise Strategies

    How many calories you consume has a big impact on... Read More

    The Psychology of Weight Loss: Part 5 ? Perspectives Toward Food!

    Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More

    Were Cave Dwellers Ever Fat?

    In our mind's eye, we see our ancient ancestors as... Read More

    Diet Tips for Weight Loss: Free Diet Tips Which You Cant Afford to Miss!

    Obesity is a disease that is not caused by a... Read More

    Conquer Those Carbohydrate Cravings

    Are you a hopeless carbohydrate addict? Let's conquer these cravings... Read More

    Scientific Research Shows Why Diets Dont Work, If You Want to Sustain Long Term Weight Loss

    To say that dieting rarely leads to sustainable weight loss... Read More

    The Truth About Dieting And Weight Loss

    You may not like what I'm about to say, but... Read More

    The Fastest Way To Your After Photo

    You've seen them a hundred times: "Before" and "After" pictures.... Read More

    Can You Still Buy Ephedra?

    With millions of people aiming for successful weight loss, many... Read More

    Lose Fats - Gain Confidence when You Lose Weight

    "How do I lose 5 kg or 30 kg?""How do... Read More

    The Key To Losing Weight And Keeping It Off

    Do you want to lose weight? Of course you do,... Read More

    How Body Mass Index Works ? Set Your Weight Loss Goals

    Many people want to lose a few of those annoying... Read More