80/20 seems to be a universal principal that can be applied to just about anything. In fact there are many version of the 80/20 diet, what I believe is more important is that our weight is determined: 80% by what we eat, and 20% by what we do. This is why some people who are extraordinarily active, but eat too much and the wrong things can still be overweight; and people who are marginally active but eat the right foods, in the right quantities can be a healthy weight.
There are however exceptions to the above. People who are overweight and have legitimate medical concerns, these days this is often easily managed. And those who I call the greyhounds. They eat what they want, rarely have any activity but are stick thin. Yes we all want to be a greyhound.
Western societies eat too much. Everything is becoming super-sized, and most people for convenience eat a lot of pre-packaged food, or as I like to call it “food by numbers”, this food has little nutritional value and is generally high in sugars and the wrong fats. We are also encouraged to buy more “junk food” in supermarkets, “buy 2 and save”, notice how this is rarely with the healthy food? But you could almost be guaranteed that chips, chocolate, soft drink and ice cream will fall into under this banner. This is false savings and the cost to your health, I believe is extremely high.
So here are my top 8 tips:
- Drink more water, people lose weight by drinking water.
- 20 minutes before every meal have a large glass of water.
- Move your body for 30 minutes each day, a walk is perfect.
- Get a smaller plate and reduce your serving sizes. A takeaway container is actually enough for 2 meals not 1.
- Stop eating by numbers at every meal. Slowly cut them out, and if you must only in emergencies, and as a true convenience.
- Don’t buy 2 to save money, you are cheating yourself.
- Plan your meals. If weekly is too much then every 3-4 days.
- When you eat junk food, food that we know we shouldn’t – don’t just taste the food, feel the food, how does it make your mind feel? How does it make your body feel? Your taste buds can trick you, your mind and body can’t.
Implement one tip each week and see the results, they should be slow and steady.
Have a great day.
Deb
