PUSHING FORWARD

I'll admit it. Staying on track all the time is difficult. However, when I've had an "eat everything in sight day", I don't stop now. I simply decide that tomorrow's another day and I push on. The simple choices make a big difference. So far I've added more water to my diet by carrying some with me most of the time. I park at the far end of the parking lot when shopping, divide portions in half, decide AHEAD OF TIME what I'm going to order when we go out to eat and I've replaced that big bowl of ice cream before bedtime, with a frozen fruit bar. Most of my food cravings are gone. I'm enjoying my food choices and food does taste better. I've lost 9 pounds so I have another 6-8 to go. Pushing on!! Linda

READING LABELS

We visited a local grocery store and had a lesson on reading labels. Here are a few tips.

- AVOID: Enriched flour, sugar/high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils or trans fats, artificial sweeteners

- LOOK FOR: 100% whole grain or wheat in bread, pasta, rice; high fiber 5 gms or more; low sodium; Cereal: less than 6 gms sugar, more than 5 gms fiber

Shop the perimeter of the grocery store where the "live" foods are. Avoid processed meats, foods.
If a food item has a label with more than 5-7 ingredients, put it back.

Darker breads are best. Sourdough is an option for white bread.

Yogurt should be the plain kind then add your own honey with fresh fruit.

Artificial sweeteners tend to affect weight loss negatively in the long term.

Make your own fruit water by adding fresh fruit to filtered water or add fresh vegetables like cucumbers.

Keep moving forward!! Linda