Follow these tips to create a healthy lifestyle for you and your family:
• Keep a food journal. Track what you eat, how much, when, and why.
• Keep an activity log. Track your exercise: type, time, and level.
• Eat at the kitchen table. Avoid eating in the car or while watching TV. This helps you focus on how much you eat, and can help prevent overeating.
• Put workouts on your calendar so you keep them. Set exercise clothes out the night before.
• Set goals you can achieve. For example, aim to eat more vegetables and less high-calorie foods.
• Eat only when you’re hungry. Do not eat because you are bored, tired, or stressed. Instead, create other habits. For example, take a walk, play a game, read a book, or call a friend.
• Try not to overeat. Once you aren’t hungry anymore, push the plate away.
• Shop for groceries on a full stomach. This will help you make healthier food choices. It is harder to resist impulse or poor choices when your stomach is empty.
• Be smart about what you drink. Most drinks are empty calories.
• Choose water or low- or no-calorie drink options. A 32 oz. regular soda has up to 400 calories.
• Limit how much alcohol you drink.
