Hopefully over the next week or two we will get some of the summer weather we are expecting.
Whether this is wishful thinking or not, the fact remains that sometimes, we turn the summer into one long happy hour, where food and drink are a part of most events and it is easy to lose track of what we consume.
According to Motivation Weight Management, a positive mental attitude and a smart approach can play a key role when trying to lose and manage weight. Here are some of Motivation's top practical tips to stay on track while enjoying all the parties and gatherings this summer.
Don’t stand so close
When you stand beside bowls of snacks and treats, you do not feel yourself dipping in and you lose track of how much you eat. Make a conscious effort to mingle with the people furthest from the buffet table.
Two’s company
Never pile your plate high with food as you are likely to eat it all whether you are hungry or not. If you put only two items on your plate during any given trip to the table, you not only give yourself time to decide if you are still hungry but you are less likely to want to keep walking up and down to the table.
Steady as you go
Eat slowly. Not only will this help with digestion and taste, it will also lessen the speed at which someone will offer you more food.
Free fuel
Use the volume approach to make yourself feel full. Fill up on the healthy stuff like broccoli and celery and then see if you have room for the rest.
Find a distraction
When you think you will be distracted by an important or fun conversation, set the food down and give the conversation your full attention. Remember, the more you focus on people and other distractions, for example, playing games with children or watching a sporting event on TV, the less you will tend to eat.
What’s on your agenda
As you enter the room, tell yourself you are there first, to either to socialise with people or conduct business, and secondly, to eat. In these situations, there is always too much food. We are not there to load up and over indulge. It is important to realise that the food is just there to enhance the event, which is to socialise. Strengthen your resolve to eat less or to eat lighter food.
Time it
Do not be afraid to arrive a little late or leave a little early. If you arrive late, the really tempting food may be gone already. If you leave early, you make it easier to avoid a second helping of dessert or picking at a cheese board late into the night.
Plan ahead
No matter what the occasion or gathering, there is usually a lot of food and a lot of temptation being served up. The key to managing it is to plan ahead. Decide what you are going to do before you get there.
Motivation Weight Management is best known for its outstanding success in helping thousands of Irish people to reach and maintain their ideal weight long-term. Clinical studies show that the Motivation programme has an 82 per cent success rate and the company prides itself in having more than 100,000 success stories.
Programmes are specially designed for men, women, and adolescents with any amount of weight to lose with private one-to-one consultations with experienced advisers and doctors.
To find out more about Motivation clinics in Buncrana, Castlebar, Letterkenny, Sligo, or Westport call 1890 989895 or see www.motivation.ie.
