Whether your goal is to slim up for summer just avoid going up a pants size, these tips will start you off on the right foot. They may even help you develop a new, healthier relationship with food.

1.       Eat Less, More Often
The main reason that we gain weight is that we take in more calories than we expend on a daily basis. In America, we don’t really know what it’s like to be hungry, we only know ‘less full’. Eating smaller meals has obvious benefits, but breaking meals into two portions and eating them several hours apart will not only decrease your total caloric intake, but keep your metabolism at a higher rate throughout the day, enabling your body to burn more calories.

2.       Drink Water – A Lot of It
Drinking water throughout the day has several benefits. You should be drinking about 64 ounces of water a day. That’s only four 16 ounce bottles, eight 8 ounce glasses, or about two liters. Water will help you feel more full and can prevent you from having a ‘dangerous snack’. Plus, it keeps you hydrated and ready for exercise.

3.       Activity – Do It!
A good strength training routine can raise your body’s metabolism for up to eight hours. Any kind of workout will elevate your metabolism and burn more calories than being sedentary. How much effort does it really take to get out for a walk after dinner instead of planting on the couch and hitting the internets or ‘Dancing With the Stars’? Heck, today almost all of us have wi-fi – take your PC with you on your walk if you have to! Any activity is better than none, but the BARE minimum should be 30 minutes three times a week.

4.       Don’t Drink Your Calories
Soda, beer, wine, juice, and other beverages all contain calories. Not to say that you can’t enjoy a glass of your favorite beverage, but keep in mind that it’s very easy to ‘sneak’ in extra calories. A twenty ounce Coke gets you 240 calories. 240!! Think of what good, nutrient rich food you could substitute in place of those sugar filled, empty calories…

5.       Keep a Food Journal
If you’re like me, you can mindlessly shove in food all day still wonder how that box of Cheez-Its disappeared. Writing down what you ate and when you ate it each day will not only keep you accountable, but you can start to recognize patterns that might help you see when you are overeating. Keeping a written log of what, where, and when can be a great tool to monitor your eating habits and can give you the ammunition to make positive changes.

I’d love to hear from you if you have any healthy eating tips you’d like to share!