From
this month's Real Simple magazine- figure that everything is in
quotes: (I REALLY recommend reading the full article)
1.
Thin people favor bulky foods (i.e. high water content, lots of
fiber, low in cals but satiating)
2.
Thin people watch portion sizes ("to keep an eye on what they
eat without being obsessive, many focus on filling their plates with
mostly fruits, vegetables, and lean protein")
3.
Thin people can put themselves first <--- rang home to
me!!
"For five years, Anne Fletcher, a registered dietitian
and the author of Thin for Life, worked in an obesity clinic. 'So
often the women I saw were people who refused to take time for
themselves,' she recalls, 'Their whole lives were spent giving
giving, giving--which women tend to do anyway, but it was really to a
faulty. Sometimes you need to put yourself first.' Thin
women prioritize eating right, exercising regularly, and reducing
stress-- all of which are conducive to staying slim. Fletcher
confesses to missing the occasional Little League game to work out
but contends that such behavior shouldn't induce guilt. Rather,
it's about taking care of yourself. 'When people take the reins, they
realize that the solution to weight control is inside them, they
realize that the solution to weight control is inside them, not in
some magic potion or fad diet that their mother or sister is on."
4.
Thin people have thin parents (genetics and good examples)
5.
Thin people don't skip meals
6.
Thin people limit their options
7.
Thin people live in Colorado (this state has the highest percentage
of people at a normal weight)
8.
Thin people don't sit still
9.
Thin people weigh themselves (not obsessively but at least a couple
times a week)
10.
Thin people don't skip breakfast
11.
Thin people enjoy their food ("'Naturally thin people enjoy their
food every bit as much as overweight people do..In fact, many enjoy
it more, because they eat without self-reproach.' Feelings of
guilt, or believing that everyone is watching what you're eating (and
thinking you shouldn't be having that hot-fudge sundae) interfere
with enjoyment. 'Thin people are selective gourmets...Our bodies have
a budget, like our checkbook. We should 'spend' on what we eat
selectively, not compulsively'"
12.
Thin people practice early intervention
13.
Thin people do what works: "The biggest difference
between the permanently thin and everyone else might very well be
this: Those who don't gain (or regain) have come up with effective,
specific, and often personal ways to keep their weight in
check...'Thin people get out of the mind-set of being 'good' or
'bad', it's about doing what works'...when good habits are integrated
into your life, something shifts. There's no need to count
calories, agonize over an order of fries, track miles walked, or
(worst of all) talk endlessly about what you're eating and not
eating. For the thin, feeling strong, healthy, and yes, slim
are powerful rewards--and their chief motivation to continue...'More
than 90 percent of those who have mastered weight maintenance feel
like they're not dieting. It becomes a way of life."
