Duelin’ Deals Blog by Marlaine

As you must have noticed, I write a lot about recipes, especially on MarlaineMarie on eHow. What you don’t know is that when I worked in restaurants and supper clubs, I lost weight. Working constantly with food really takes the craving out of it! That same attitude really works when you try to diet but the opposite undermines every diet. The more you deny yourself certain foods, the more you want them. When on a diet, letting yourself have a favorite food now and then helps keep you on course!

Just an added note – I have quit worrying about my weight but want to lose some – it’s dropping nice and slow. My husband doesn’t care about his weight either but he isn’t trying to lose any weight. He is not exactly used to my cooking yet, poor dear, because even after two years he still loves every meal I make.

Here is the article I wrote for eHow:
How to Kick Your Appetite To The Curb

Don’t think of it as dieting or losing weight – just park your appetite and rev your attitude. Just like many things in life, you have to want to do this – no one can make you lose weight! Studies show that kids who are allowed to eat what and when they want, level out naturally in body weight – so don’t stomp on that brake! Put your weight on cruise control and enjoy the journey.

You need to make up your mind to just be reasonable about what you eat! That’s all!

First of all, stop worrying so much! Many of us eat because we are fidgety, bored or unhappy. Be aware of when and what you are eating but don’t obsess. Focus on things you like about yourself and forgive the stuff you don’t like. Don’t worry about the Food Police pulling your over to give you a ticket either!

Eating protein will slow down your hunger! Start your day with some protein or snack on protein and you’ll be less hungry! Hard boiled eggs or cottage cheese does work! Sugary cereal, donuts, or even English muffins, only revs up your energy and drives up your appetite!

Work on brain projects when you’re hungry! Give yourself something else to think about other than food. Play a computer game that you can’t drag yourself away from or get into a really good crafting or woodworking project – something that keeps your hands and brain busy!

Avoid the smells of yummy foods! Your brain reacts to the smells of your favorite foods just as it does to the taste in your mouth when you are eating! While at work, if someone is using the microwave and it smells too good, use air freshener or go outside if there isn’t a fast food place you can smell nearby.

Don’t have things close at hand that you can’t resist! If people around you insist on having things on your off limit list of foods, either get them to buy only what they will eat in a day or only buy enough for them if you have to buy the groceries. Make what tempts you hard to get by putting the most tempting foods or drinks way out of reach like in another room or another floor.

You heal while you sleep and that includes allowing your body to produce the optimal chemicals that you need for everything. Studies show that if you don’t get enough sleep, hormonal fluctuations occur that increase your appetite.

Every time you eat, make it a real meal – not a snack. Sit down, use a plate, look at the food as you eat it, and notice every bite you take. Don’t eat while you drive, while you read, or while you talk on the phone – pay attention to what you are eating!

Eat whatever you want to eat but don’t heap up your plate. Don’t get a second helping.

Eat when your stomach rumbles – not when your brain mumbles.

Tips & Warnings
* Tell yourself that every time you feel really hungry in between meals, you are probably losing weight!
* Imagine yourself 10 or 20 pounds lighter – even if you need to lose a lot more.
* Eat the things you love – denial leads to the need to make it up to yourself and probably a whole lot more of whatever it was you were denying yourself!
* Don’t beat yourself up when you overeat. That eating binge will run out of gas, especially if you allow yourself to have one once in a while! Just restart that engine and drive on until you get to where you want to go!

Good Luck and Great Life to All!