Four Steps to Slim

It's spring. Give yourself every chance to move forward and fall in love with your life all over again. This is a season of new beginnings. Here are four easy, non-stress steps to feeling slim. Start following these today and by June, you will notice a difference.

(1) S - START using all of your senses more throughout the day - including common sense. Common sense is balancing what you know, with what you feel, to do what is in your best interest.

• It's common sense to eat slower and it's easy!! Put your fork or sandwich down between bites.
• When we really taste and chew food, we eat less. Don't be lazy - taste your food!
• Portion control is as basic as using our eyes to see how much food is on the plate. 
• If you go out for dinner, ask to have your main course on a salad plate and only eat what fits on that plate.

(2 ) L - LET go of diet dogma and tune-in to your own body. 95% of dieters gain back more weight than they lose.

•  Diets are generic; you are not. Learn which foods are nutritious and then, eat what you feel like having, for energy and nutrition. Here is a helpful site for nutrition facts.
• Self-control is about yourself. Eating is personal. Do what works best for you.
• Try enjoying soup or dessert with a teaspoon instead of a large spoon. You will eat slower and less.

(3) I - INTUITION is our friend. Everyone has it. Intuitive tools are a total support system with guidelines that connect with what we value. These help us stay in control of eating mentally, physically and emotionally. Intuitive tools are an attitude to bring to the table every time you eat. Tenacity, determination and dignity are examples of intuitive tools.

• Tenacity is being true to yourself.  When you make a decision to have this attitude, you connect with an attitude of determination, which stops feelings of frustration! Instead of stress around eating for nutrition and energy, your priorities realign and you are more patient with yourself. It's awesome.
• An attitude of dignity is always an asset. You feel it in your chest. Don't ever put yourself in a position that offends your dignity!

(4) M -ME. Think about "me" when you eat. Experience your own body, your own mind and your own soul. Be kind to yourself and honest with yourself. Love has a way of helping us. Love yourself at mealtime. Loving starts by forgiving yourself for every bad eating decision you ever made. That's a secret for moving forward.

• Before you get out of bed in the morning, close your eyes and visualize your ideal, healthy body. Imagine what it feels like to be fit and how much energy you will have during the day.
• Appreciate your ability to make choices and your strength to follow through with being the best you can be.
• Connect with an attitude of gratitude for little things that make your life easier. It's those little things that we can count on that help us stay on track when the going gets rough.

Am I Really Hungry, 6th Sense Diet: Intuitive Eating  will help reset your priorities and you will recognize what's holding you back from eating when you're hungry and stopping when you're not. Pick up a hard copy and stick markers on pages that help you stay true to yourself, or buy an e-copy and access intuitive tools from your phone!

#janebernard