Gluten Free Breeze (formerly Brendygirl) Blog

I don't drink coffee, eat fattening things like cheesecake/creme brulee, fast food, or much red meat.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A13):
But I DO claim sugar as my vice. After 10 years of teaching, I'm the same size, and colleagues often ask me how I do it. Here are some ideas as well as

Things I do to trim down for bikini season (my summer clothes are a size smaller than my winter ones- it's a midwestern thing, we're very season-oriented):

Make sure you're only eating until you're NOT HUNGRY anymore, then GET UP (I feel "stuffed" only maybe once a year.)

Don't obsess with food, plan it out for the week and be done thinking about it!!!!

(I can't believe how some people talk about food, write about it, dream about it, grocery shop, go out to eat, DAILY!! WHat a waste of time! That is the heart of my celiac struggle- having to think more about food..being HIGH maint.)

Chew sugarless gum- sometimes after a meal you just want a cleansed palate.

Eat little sugary things that take a long time: blow pop, starburst, tootsie roll---DAILY!!

Make myself eat something healthy B4 I allow a sugar snack: grapefruit, carrot sticks

Drink: tea, hot chocolate==proven that often we assume hunger when we're only thirsty!!

Don't keep trigger foods in the house- I NEVER buy ice cream and when I bake goodies-FREEZE half

Sometimes I just make myself sit there and think about what I'm craving and why

I tell myself to wait an hour and distract myself ...and again. and again.

PREVENT low blood sugar- map out meals AND snacks and put them on the fridge

PREPARE veggies right away-cleaned, sliced, and indiv. wrapped so just as convenient as bad foods

Challenge yourself to eat an entire veggie platter in a week!

Keeping a food journal is proven to help eat less and lose weight

Figure out your Naughty times and nip them-- I work out at 11PM-- yoga DVD, pushups, whatever

Stop making excuses

Don't eat like a bird around other people-- then you binge later- I know friends who do this

On the cruise we walked in on the girl on Weight Watcher who'd ordered cookies to her room from r.service

Mark your PLATE like a grid: half is veggies, 1/4 protein, 1/4 carb

count calories- try calorieking website

Eat guilt-free good foods like steamed edamame, diet popcorn, shrimp, cucumber, lowcal popsicles

Mimic a healthy person you know--I just went on a cruise w/ heavy people-I eat SO differently, yet they tell me I'm naturally thin!! Yeah, right.

make yourself try a new healthy food each week: polenta, quinoa, sushi, octopus, lox, lentils

Aquire healthy hobbies: tennis, yoga, walking, volleyball, swimming, bicycling--join a club or lesson

Avoid most "diet" foods- they are fattening in disguise- I could go on and on about the science here

DO use spray butter and spray oils

Don't eat while you watch TV, computer

Make yourself exercise DAILY at least 20 min. Don't go to sleep until you do. Even if it's 1AM

Encourage yourself- if you survived a craving, literally cheer for yourself

Tell yourself every day you'll do better than the day before.

Lock your purse in your trunk if you are a fast food person- no $$, no fast food

Keep healthy Lara bars, bumble bars, trail mix in your desk, car, etc. so you won't starve & binge

Pour lots of salt on remaining food when you're done eating- now you're done for SURE

Don't allow yourself TV unless you do situps, pushups, lunges, stretches during commercials.

Tell everyone you're tired of being fat-so it's not a secret- I did this at Xmas and my weight fell off

I made myself wear my tight clothes and feel the misery- suffering through a natural consequence helped!

Smoothies are a MEAL not a drink

Don't join a gym- workout at home- Turn to FIT TV channel!!

Get recipes from Blaine's Low Carb Kitchen on Fit TV website

Make a weight graph- post on fridge and weigh yourself weekly

Allow yourself a goody on PMS days

Get rid of ranch dressings, sauces, dips, etc. Don't add sugar/honey/etc. to drinks, foods

Keep a food/exercise journal, really! They have them you can buy at the bookstore, too.

Wear a pedometer all day and make yourself get 10,000 steps a day

Hang out with healthy people

Walk instead of drive- especially don't drive around for a close parking spot- park FAR away

don't go on cruises or fattening vacation/going out places

Be assertive to people who try to sabotage you by offering food-- tell them, "I'm not eating now."

Exercise with your kids and family. Be a positive role model.

Take vitamins- I can tell I feel lethargic without my iron and B12, no joke

Eat the SUPER FOODS-berries, legumes, etc. Buy the book...

Read health magazines- I like Men's health-their low carb recipes are often gluten free

Write in your food journal which of these tips you followed daily and praise yourself!

Good luck! Keep trying! I do!