Dieting for a Beginner

When someone talks about starting a new workout program, they’re very likely to hear a particular piece of advice: Start small. Take baby steps. Start slowly and gradually work your way forward. That’s because this advice is healthy, safe, and it works. However, you rarely hear it discussed in regards to dieting. People tend to get very impatient when they diet, taking drastic measures and willing the number on the scale to change faster than is realistic.

In reality, starting small is excellent advice for any dieter, especially those who have tried the drastic route and come up empty. It’s not hard to see why. Anytime you attempt to change your entire life and all the habits that make you feel comforted in one fell swoop; you are likely to fail. It would be nice if we could just snap our fingers and change the way we live, but in practice, it takes time to adjust.

With that in mind, it makes sense that you would have the most success when you pick just one or two small changes to make at a time. Once you’ve adjusted to your new habits and they feel natural, then add in another change. These small changes add up big time as you stay consistent. Some examples of baby steps you could take include:

• Eat more protein. Adding more protein into your diet is a great way to help reduce your appetite, increase satiety at meals and snacks, help build muscle, and increase the number of calories you burn even while at rest.
• Start eating breakfast. If you regularly skip breakfast, you could be setting yourself up to binge later when you find yourself starving. Eggs make a great breakfast because they contain protein, fat, and far too many essential vitamins to list here. A side of fruit will not only be refreshing but also add a healthy dose of fibre.
• Eliminate sugary beverages. If you’re only going to make one single change this year, make it this one. Sweet beverages such as sodas and fruit juices are nothing but empty calories. Put them aside and drink water instead.

Whether it’s one of these examples or something else entirely, choose one baby step to take – and then take it. Stick with your small change until it becomes easy and then add a new one. This is how healthy habits are built, and it can work for you.