Sticking to that diet – can a wok help?

When we begin a diet, usually we are very motivated. We get in all the food that we will need, plan all the meals we will be eating, and begin to look forward to losing lots of weight. Quite often the diet goes well initially. Many of us start diets during a period when we have few external commitments such as parties or meals out, so temptations are less. Things usually go well at first. Often we have daily weigh ins during this period and we’re motivated by the weight going down.
Nevertheless it is often a false start and it doesn’t continue. A contributory factor could be that we give ourselves little rewards for doing so well. It may be that we’re easily bored and our old foods and way of life are too tempting. It may be that we lose motivation as the weight doesn’t come off as quickly as we hoped. Here follow ten tips that are designed to help if any of this applies to you:
1 Make sure your goals are not unrealistic and reassess them if necessary. Best to achieve your goals by regular, small amounts than try to get there quickly.
2  Remember back to the reasons that made you start your diet – this may give you more motivation. Perhaps it was to improve your looks. Perhaps it was for health reasons. Whether for these or other reasons, it made you take the big step to start  -thinking about it again may remotivate you.
3  Pick up new and improved skills in the kitchen. Increased knowledge about cooking techniques will reduce the likelihood of using higher calorie ingredients or getting a take away in. It might also lead to increased use of healthier fish and vegetables in cooking at the expense of more fattening meat and cheese. This is where using a wok comes in – one of the quickest, easiest and healthiest ways of preparing food. And I can thoroughly recommend this book bursting with healthy Chinese food recipes from Nick Zhou.
4  Give yourself permission to adopt a particular vice. This could be a gin and tonic four times a week or a daily chocolate biscuit. That way it will be allowed – and you won’t feel guilty  and be tempted to stray in other areas.
5  Do make certain that nibbles are to hand that won’t be too bad for you if you feel the urge – maybe fruit or a vegetable, or even low calorie popcorn. Hopefully these will be the foods that you go for if you feel the need to have something a bit different.
6  Maintain a diary with everything you eat and drink in it. We do have a tendency to kid ourselves about what we’re eating – this will not only help show the exact foods we’re eating, but also may act as a deterrent by forcing you to realise you’ll need to write it down if you eat that forbidden food!
7 Burn calories with someone you love! One hour in the bedroom may well help you burn over 200 calories Four benefits- burning calories, less chance of snacking, good exercise, and enjoyment as well!
8 Make sure that you’re on the best diet for you. It needs to be as easy as possible to follow. The dieting plan will, most certainly involve the recording of something. The recording could be of calories – maybe a points based system, or perhaps fats or fibre. Have a diet that necessitates the monitoring of  something you find easy.
9 Find friends in the same boat as you. Diets are easier when not faced alone.
10  When you succeed, tell everyone. Each time you keep to your diet or exercise regime note the fact down. Then award yourself a prize – maybe watching a silly TV programme that you enjoy – or seek encouragement from family or friends.