Thin is in, and being overweight is out. It is a fact that every woman dreams of an hourglass figure, but lack of exercise and poor dietary habits are some of the factors that cause a slim and fit body to remain a dream for many of us. Other problems such as a family history of obesity or hormonal imbalance also play a major role in excessive weight gain and can be remedied by consulting the family physician.
The 20's and 30's are also child bearing years for most women and during pregnancy, women tend to eat a high-calorie diet, which is essential for the well-being of the child. But even after delivery women do not take any measures to lose the extra kilos they put on during pregnancy, and, at a later stage, loosing weight becomes an uphill task. Also, the reality is that, between managing the house, doing household chores, looking after the children and husband, many women feel that it is impossible to find time for them.
Well, looking after yourself is also an equally important aspect of your life, as looking good and feeling good about yourself keeps you in a positive frame of mind which, in turn, makes you more energetic and nurturing towards your family members. Losing weight does not have to mean rigorous exerciser and strict diet control. Though exercise is definitely a big plus, even if you think that you do not have the time for exercise, you can start implementing minor changes in your dietary habits and soon, you will start noticing the positive results.
Here are some suggestions to help you cut down the calories in your meals. Each suggestion helps you shed unnecessary calories from your favorite dishes, without compromising on taste or nutritive value.
1. Always remember that, as you take a helping of a low-calorie dish, you are literally helping yourself by choosing a healthier way of life.
2. Cut down on the oil, ghee which you use for cooking and try to do all you’re frying in non-stick cookware.
3. Use skim milk in your tea or coffee instead of whole milk. You will not even notice the difference in taste.
4. Avoid snacks in between meals. If you feel hungry, eat fruits, such as papaya, watermelon.
5. Once in a week, de-toxify your body by eating only fruits and skimmed milk on that day.
6. Use puree-cooked vegetables to make delicious but low caloried soups.
7. Low fat cottage cheese can be made at home from skimmed milk.
8. Avoid finishing off the baby food left over after feeding your baby, as this is high in calorie.
9. Do not continue eating even after you feel full. Do not continue eating just because there is food left on your plate. Serve yourself in small quantities and take another helping only if you are still very hungry.
10. Drink 8-10 glasses of water.
11. For gravies, first boil and puree onions before frying the puree in a non-stick pan. This way you can cut down the amount of oil required for cooking.
12. Transfer all fried food on a tissue paper to get rid of excess oil.
13. Make French fries without deep frying them but by first frying potato slices in a non-stick pan with a minimum of oil and then baking them in an oven.
14. Try to eat low-calorie foods like salads and sprouts on a daily basis.They are highly nutrituous and beneficial to your skin, too.
15.Vegetables such as okra and brinjal soak up a lot of oil while cooking.Before frying, cook in a baking tray first.
16.Try to cook in a microwave as much as possible.
17.While cooking, ensure that the oil is sufficiently hot before you start frying.This is because food soaks up cold oil more readily tha hot oil.
18.For making desserts, such as custards or ice creams, use skim milk instead of whole milk.
19. Drink lime water instead of soft drinks, and by the way of snacks have popcorn or steamed idlis instead of potato wafers or nuts, which are extremely high in calories.
20.You can make croutons with left-over bread. Cut it into small cubes and microwave them.It tastes great with soups and is fat-free.
21.While making white sauce, use skim milk and a puree of boiled cauliflower instead of whole milk.
22.If you are going to eat out, eat a little before leaving the house.This way you will resist the urge to gorge yourself on high-calorie food.
23.Lastly, even if you take a high calorie meal one day, do not despair.Just be careful about what you eat for the next couple of days to compensate for your binge.
Small measures go a long way in controlling your weight. However exercising will hasten up the process of losing weight, but do not forget to consult your doctor before you start, especially if you are suffering from hypertension, diabetes or heart disease. Your body is your temple, look after it and it will serve you well throughout your life.
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