Share Your Favorite "Quick Tips"!!

[KathyTX]

Would anybody like to share their favorite "quick tips" with WISH friends? Quick tips are fast little bits of information or inspiration that you've discovered that might solve a little challenge or spark a new idea. Could be anything from a new product, food or recipe to some inspirational little motto to an exercise tip- really anything!!

Here's one of mine:

Small bowls - my morning cereal portions look lost in normal cereal bowls, so I use small bowls that only hold about 1.5 cups to make the portions look more generous.

 

[PartyofSix]

Don't measure your food with your ladle spoon use a real measuring utensil.LOL What you think is a portion could be way off from what is a portion.

 

[nativetxn]

Get a food scale and <i>use</i> it.

 

[TigH]

All great tips!!! And I already use a smaller bowl for my oatmeal, measure EVERYTHING out and use my scale to weigh things like cheese and chicken breast!

Don't know if this is considered a quick tip or not, but here you go. If a recipe only makes 2-4 portions but you know you are going to eat this food many times, prepare a double batch and freeze or refrigerate individual servings. This cuts back on prep/cooking time and allows you to always be prepared.

 

[KathyTX]

If you find yourself at a fast food place, opt for a kids' meal instead of some "super-sized" burger and fries.

 

[nativetxn]

Many years ago when I was following weight watcher's eating plan and worked outside the home I would weigh my cereal and package it in small ziploc bags, one for each day, so that I wouldn't have to weigh it in the morning. It saved a little time and I always ate the correct amount of cereal

 

[froglady]

When eating out, I ask for a "take out/leftover" box as soon as my meal arrives. I measure out a reasonable portion (usually about 1/3 of the serving or less) and put the rest in the box, which I then seal and put off to the side someplace. That way I'm not as tempted to eat just a little bit more.

 

[nativetxn]

Ooooh, good one, Froglady!

 

[CDoobee]

One of my pet peeves is that I can only find single serving bags of fat-free chips at places like Subway. I would love to be able to find them at the grocery store instead of having to get the large bags! So until that happens: I weigh, measure, count, out the chips, pretzels, crackers, etc and put them in zip-loc baggies which I then label 1 pt., 2 pts., or 3 pts. It really helps to be able to grab a baggie and know exactly how many points I'm getting ahead of time! I tend to grab a few extra (if they're broken, the points fell out, right?) when trying to stick to eating just one serving out of a large bag!

Debbie

 

[Rhonda]

When ordering out at a restaurant, ask for veggies or extra salad instead of the potato! I've even done it for breakfast with my omelette!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Put your fork or spoon down in between bites. That helps you eat slower.

On that same note I must reiterate my frozen fruit snack tip. For a snack I slowly (do I have a choice?) munch on frozen fruit: pineapple, strawberries, grapes, honeydew, etc. This also ensures you eat slowly or suffer the almighty brain freeze!

Also, drink an 8oz glass of water right before each meal. By doing this you'll fill up faster and get in a good portion of your daily recommended water.

Good tips everyone!!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I just thought of another one but it's not a food tip. I take little blank index cards then I divide them into equal sized blocks. In each block I countdown my weight. As I lose a pound I color in that block so I don't ever see it again!! It is small enough that I can carry it in my purse so if I'm out and tempted with something really bad for me I can discretely look at it and see the progress I've made to that point. Sounds pretty dumb but it has worked for me, plus I like being able to color out that next number!

 

[DiznEeyore]

Luckymommy, that is not dumb at all! Anything that works to motivate you is worthwhile, and I think it's a great idea!

 

[perfectmatch300]

When I go on break at work I DO NOT BRING MONEY!
That way, when the evil SNACK MACHINE that resides there tries to grab me, I can resist! It's tough when the only place to go on break is a room with an evil snack machine in residence. It's amazing how many times I have evaded it's clutches because I have no money with me & won't ask anyone if I can borrow some!

 

[KathyTX]

Luckymommy, what a cute little idea!! Along those same lines, I have a paper clip chain in my office: 1 paper clip for each pound lost. It hangs beside my calendar and I see it each day before lunch to remind me to be good.

 

[tiggerlover]

When we go out for dinner, which seems to be once a week these days, I usually order a child's portion so I am not tempted by the delicous food to eat a larger portion. I also do what Rhonda said and order the extra veggies.

 

[KathyTX]

In my office, I always keep a couple of StarKist "Lunch To-Go" packs. It's an envelope of tuna, crackers, low-fat mayo and pickles. 210 calories, 5 WW points. This way I have an easy lunch on hand for those hectic days when I don't pack a healthy lunch and would otherwise run to run to the deli for a sandwich or burger and fries...

 

[lmhall2000]

Haven't finished reading everyone's so hope I don't duplicate

With fresh veggies- cut/store the same day
Carrots get peeled and cut into sticks and put in water in a tupperware dish and celery, too
Lettuce- gets put in my salad spinner and stored- it lasts about 4 days fresh this way - love my spinner
Onions- I cut as a I need them

Keep atleast 3 types of fruit available, raisins, apples, bananas, pears, grapes, strawberries. If you keep a variety it makes you want one- 3 apples in a row gets me icky.

At restaurants- order what you WANT- just eat half of everything on the plate- goes for dessert too. Drink lots of water while waiting for your food too- this helps curb your appetite!

Make a goal chart- my first goal is month-month but I have a 6-month goal where I can see where I will be- averaging about 5-7 pounds a month. It's so encouraging to see that you can be at that number you haven't seen in months and in my case YEARS!!

Don't eat anything after 7pm- drink lots of water and have a nice herbal tea if you need something filling.

At Aunt Flo's monthly visit- keep a couple of craving foods around- I crave chocolate so I give myself miniature hershey bars- one or two a day until she's left the premises- it works and I don't crave the big bowl of brownies like I used to!

Tara

 

[KathyTX]

You've got some good tips there, Tara! I especially like the one about a variety of fruit (I get bored eating the same things!), and having the carrot sticks and celery ready to just grab.

Thanks, and keep those great ideas coming!!

 

[nativetxn]

Great tips, Tara. I particularly like the goal chart. I need to do that