Leeway Lean

When the burger joint knows your name and order by the sound of your voice as soon as you call them and you know their personal stories, it is time to make a few adjustments to your eating plan.
The only time I “dye-it” is when my hair changes colour. Any educated person knows that a diet is a short-term fad that leads to a long-term effect that is physically, mentally and socially detrimental.

Eating plans become part of a balanced lifestyle while eating disorders leave physical and psychological imbalances in most cases.
I live alone, do not cook and I enjoy junk food. While my exercise routine is regular and stable, eating patterns are governed by time, cravings and budget.

I want to lose the extra fat that no amount of exercise can remove from my active body. I’m training for a half marathon and the only kilos I can afford to add should be to my mileage, not my midline.
My main problem involves balance. I’m out of balance when I run, placing more emphasis on one side of my body to do all the work. When it comes to eating, my impression of a balanced diet involves having some form of food in each hand. Coffee and muffin, beer and snack, chocolate and anything else in my right hand. I also make the mistake of trying to alter the balance by putting a book or magazine in the other hand and when I’ve finished the chapter, a packet of chips has also disappeared!
My conclusion is that most eating “sins” can be controlled by the mind and I’ve formulated these tips to reduce consumption:

 Buy deep, narrow cookie jars and buy small packets of cookies – this will ensure that you cannot reach your favourite biscuits once you’ve eaten the top layer.

 Never eat alone – always make eating a social occasion. This has a dual purpose: avoidance of messy fast foods such as pizza and burgers and eating more slowly (like the experts recommend) while chatting as it’s rude to talk with your mouth full.

 Take a doggie bag when dining out – this can lead to less hassle to make lunch for work the next day or the car guard at the restaurant can get an edible tip.

 Finish chewing before taking the next bite. Think of exercising those jaw muscles optimally by chewing as slowly as possible. If only spot fat reduction were possible I would be gaunt from chewing carefully and talking a lot.

 Rather have desert with lunch than with supper to give it more time to settle. Have a low calorie drink for desert instead of cake.

 Include protein in all meals to improve satiety and feel fuller.

 Cheat foods should not be lying around the house calling your name whenever you are too lazy to cook.

 Take the fast food outlets and delivery services off your speed dial and remove the menus from your fridge.

 Drink water with meals and avoid carbonated drinks and alcohol.

 Be conscious of everything that you put in your mouth. Remember when you cheat and whether it was worth the empty calories that must now be exercised away.
Changing your lifestyle should not be drastic or compulsive, but being aware of food choices and snacking improves eating habits and leads to a better balance with both hands raised in victory after achieving your goal.