How to Diet the Easy Way in Time for Summer

It's the worst of the four-letter words, and brings universal cringing when we hear it. "Diet." Yes, it's no coincidence that the word "die" lies within it, but if you change your way of thinking about it, you might just change the way you see yourself looking back at a new slimmer you from the mirror.

Here are some practical tips to get you through the mental preparation to even think about losing weight. And, some may even be a surprise to you.

Eating actually will help you lose weight. Why? Because the human body automatically goes into self-preservation mode when it is faced with not having any caloric intake, slowing down the metabolism to conserve energy via fat storage. Think: Eat more often, especially foods that aid in caloric burn. This beats cycles of famine countered by the inevitable feasting, where uneven degrees of fat get saved - and become even harder to lose.

Write down what you eat. Every. Bite. You will begin to see an emerging pattern. Keeping it in a journal helps, too. In fact, jotting diet as well as activity will definitely help to provide you with ideas for long-term answers for better weight management.

This raises the next subject: exercise. Before you blanche, realize that even simple activity can burn calories, and does not have to be strenuous. Gardening, housework, walking the dog - the simplest everyday movement burns calories if your body is in the right mode.

Avoid, however, overdoing the first few times. Soreness or injury is no incentive to keep going with exercise.

Swimming is an excellent method for weight loss, and even if you live in colder climes, you can do this indoors. Joining a gym does not have to cost a mint; some can be had for $10 a month. If you decide on that new staple, mall-walking, beware of temptation. Mall eateries can lure even the most dedicated, and the smells work psychologically as well as olfactorily!

Plan ahead for meals before the desperation of starvation makes you overdo when you need a meal. Simplicity, and often, small incomes, dictate what we eat. It's easier to hit the fast-food places when hungry, and lack of money can translate into buying too many starches - such as noodle dishes that tend to be cheaper than meats. If you set a goal of buying in smaller increments when shopping for food, this may help. Consider buying for 2-3 days at a time instead of an entire week or longer. It may be a greater inconvenience, but you may find food sales more appealing and varied this way.

When you get home from food shopping, cut up the fresh fruits into bite-size to be a snack food of choice, instead of reaching for chips or high-calorie snacks. Keep refrigerator shelves stocked with melon cubes, baby carrots, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes or other items, pre-cleaned and ready to grab and munch. Also, do away with temptation and dump the higher fat snacks, or at least write their calories on the packages in large black letters.

Find simple meals that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less, prep time to table. There are a few good reasons for this. You won't be as starved when the food is ready and either snack beforehand or over-eat when the meal is ready. You won't be as tired and apt to "coach-potato" afterward, either. This can be taught to a spouse or children, too, and they will appreciate the simplicity and time constraints.

Time saving items like Ziploc microwave-able bags, or vacuum bags just might be an answer for you. They can also be bought in bulk at one of the warehouse clubs, and the vacuum sealer is originally a cost, but will save you money over time. You can microwave or boil the food stored in these bags, and you can control the portion sizes inside. This is especially important for the elderly, or for college-age kids away from home but in need of home-cooking. They are wonderful for cooking vegetables, taking from about 3-7 minutes per dish, and provide good side dishes for seasoned meat that is oven-cooked for 20 or so minutes.

Before dishing up your portions and having the meal, put away the leftover food, or divide it into portions for future meals, popping them into the freezer. This is good for a couple of reasons; it doesn't tempt eaters to eat more than one portion at the initial meal, and it provides quick meals for future use. Also, serve on smaller plates. It has the advantage of making you feel like you are getting more food.

With sealable bags or vacuum-packed canisters, even snack items can be preserved, so you are not eating as much at a sitting. You won't feel deprived, but you won't overeat, either. These also keep vegetables, like mushrooms and lettuce, fresh for weeks at a time.

Moms can save time and money by freezing foods for babies for future use. Take family meal leftovers, blend together in a blender, and freeze in ice cube trays. When they are solid, empty the cubes into the bags, and label with a marker.

And, when it comes to fast food? If you do find yourself with that as your only option, choose a child's size meal, and opt for the fresh apple slices with it instead of fries. Even restaurants and fast food places are taking the initiative to offer healthier alternatives. If you don't see it on the menu, ask!

Qwik Potato Recipe:
2 white potatoes, washed and sliced, with skins still on
sliced green onion
garlic seasoning
small pat of butter

Put all ingredients into microwave bag and steam for seven minutes. Provides 2-3 servings.

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