My Frugal Frugal Ways

Most people think of dieting as some sort of deprivation.  Don’t eat this, don’t eat so much of that.  I approach it in a slightly different manner.  I make additions to my daily consumption.

I add lots of water.  It has zero calories.  It fills me up.  My skin loves it.  It helps keep things moving and it does help prevent fiber from bulking up and causing problems.  So, add 8 ounces per day until you’re consuming that 80 ounces or so of water.  Drink a glass 1/2 hour before eating.  Drink a glass when you wake up.  Most definitely consume water before and during exercise.

Add a snack.  That’s right.  I have actually added a snack to my diet.  Around 4:00 p.m. I have an apple with a bit of peanut butter (the kind without any additives) and, you guessed it, a glass of water.  It will spoil my dinner you say.  That’s right.  That’s part of the idea.  Eating a smaller dinner is helpful if you’re attempting to lose weight.  It’s healthier as well since going to bed on a full stomach is not a good idea.

Add some legumes, slowly.  They’re cheap, especially if you buy them dried.  They contain lots of good proteins, vitamins and fiber.  They take a while to digest so you feel satisfied for a longer period of time.  So, today, start your dinner with a nice bowl of lentil soup.

Add vegetables.  If you normally squeeze in one vegetable for dinner, tonight cook two types.  If you’re making soup, throw in one or two more kinds of vegetables than the recipe calls for.

Add fish.  A nice dose of fish for lunch or dinner gives you your Omega-3’s, selenium, antioxidants, and protein.

Add dessert.  No, I don’t mean cheesecake.  I mean a nice healthy bite of fruit.  Slice a peach.  Yum.  The idea is to add so many healthy items into your diet that you no longer have room for high calorie unhealthy choices.