Cut Calories with Simple Tricks

Like a penny saved is a penny earned, so calories saved are…a better you. None of us learned to walk, speak or ride a bicycle in one big leap. So it is with long lasting weight control. Little by little and practice are best.

Incorporate these habits into your lifestyle and you will see results. According to the American Academy of Sports Medicine, if you reduce your total calorie intake by 500/day, you will lose one pound per week.

Each of the steps here will cut your calorie count by 100-300/day, many without lifting a finger.

1. Cook: Believe it or not, cooking burns 175-215 calories per hour. By cooking we mean a reasonable degree of food preparation, not simply micro waving or heating a frozen meal.


2. Playing with children: Even while sitting, this burns the same 175-215 as cooking.


3. Miniature Golf: Either this or going to a driving range burns 200-300 per hour.


4. One Drink Less: A 5 oz. Glass of wine or 1.5 oz. of liquor is 100 calories. A 12 oz. Beer packs 150. If you drink wine, drink red if you can, since it contains the health helpful resveratrol.


5. Skimp on the Trimmings: Skip the cheese, croutons and creamy dressings in salad. Sunflower seeds or apple provide crunch, raisins a bit of sweet and balsamic vinaigrette a richness that makes you happy while saving 100 each day.


6. Avoid the Supersize:The National Institute of Health reports that many foods are nearly twice as large as 20 years ago. The average muffin calorie count has gone from 210 to 500. But you can buy mini muffins or just eat 1/2 of a full sized one at a time.


7. Substitute for Butter: Olive or canola oil works better in a fry pan than butter and with a lower calorie load. They are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep your blood pressure low and prevent cardiovascular disease. Or try vegetable or chicken stock, which will lower your intake even more.


8. Water the Plant: The human body is mostly water, but also a non-stop power plant. We need about 2 liters (a little more than 2 quarts) per day just to keep up. We stay at 98.6 degrees because we burn food to do so. We sweat to cool off this heat producing activity. And we drink water—not sugary drinks—to keep the cycle in balance.



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