25 NEW IDEAS FOR LOSING WEIGHT
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In the Battle of the Bulge, check out these new strategies to help you win it once and for all.

1) Timing is everything. Statistically, springtime is the best time to start a diet due to increased outdoor activity and availability of lighter foods.

2) Define your weight-loss goals and plan how you want to get there. Just like any road trip, you need a map. Write down how much weight you want to lose, how you want to feel and determine a reasonable time frame in reaching those goals.

3) Feed your head: use your imagination to picture yourself slim and healthy. Plus, rework your inner dialogue, replacing negative thoughts like "I hate exercise" with more positive, encouraging words.

4) Fill up on information. Rather than just blindly following the latest fad diets, bone up on nutrition, weight loss and fitness facts. You'll probably discover some nuggets of information that will help you reach your personal goals more easily.

5) Go whole. If you're bored with counting calories or fat grams, simply focus on eating whole foods, like fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Choosing an apple over a slice of apple pie or a baked potato instead of fries is a no-brainer way of getting the right stuff into your diet.

6) Divide and conquer. Turn your three meals into six, by dividing them up. Eating six mini meals over the course of the day is an effective way to keep appetite under control and energy up.

7) Mix it up with veggies. Sneak big portions of vegetables into favorite dishes, to increase nutrition and decrease fat and calories. For example, mix a small serving of macaroni and cheese with a large serving of broccoli. It'll fill you up with good stuff, and your taste buds won't be deprived.

8) Go "low" instead of "no." A little fat in the diet helps us feel satisfied. If you get hungry again soon after eating, try adding some low-fat foods with every meal.

9) Don't leave eating to chance. Plan ahead for temptation -- carry a healthy snack in your purse or in the car, have all the ingredients ready to whip up that nutritious dinner when you get home. Take it one step further by planning all of your day's meals in advance, too.

10) Party smartly. After eating a few hors d'oeuvres, sneak off to the bathroom and brush your teeth. It won't be quite so appealing diving into more spinach dip if your mouth tastes minty fresh.

11) Switch hands. When it comes to finger foods, use your non-dominant hand to eat them with. The conscious effort you make will slow down mindless munching.

12) Get in a pickle. Pickles are a good low-cal, flavorful snack.

13) Take ten. Most cravings pass in 10 minutes, so next time the Cookie Monster rears its head, have a plan of distraction: take a walk, meditate, or call a friend.

14) Candy for dessert. Pop a sugar-free candy after dinner to curb that desire for dessert.

15) Get enough sleep. Sometimes people eat for "energy" when what they really need is a nap. Make sure you're getting enough zzz's every night.

16) Get wet. Dehydration is frequently mistaken for hunger. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

17) Take a seat to eat. Never eat standing up, as you're less likely to pay attention to what and how much you're consuming.

18) Get on the good side. When you eat out, order extra sides of veggies and steamed rice; eat mostly from that plate, and less of the main dish.

19) Stay single. Single servings give you instant portion control. One fudgsicle, for example, is less dangerous than a pint of ice cream.

20) Heat it up. Spices such as pepper and horseradish not only add flavor with almost zero calories, they also boost your metabolism.

21) Get the sensation. If you're craving ice cream, maybe you want something creamy. Try frozen yogurt or cottage cheese instead.

22) Be aware of ringers. Those low-fat versions of higher fat foods often contain more hip-padding calories.

23) Slurp some soup. It's filling and forces you to eat slowly.

24) Cut out alcohol. Besides adding calories, it slows down fat burning.

25) Include favorites. Deprivation only leads to overindulgence later. Schedule a favorite treat on occasion and really savor it.

Source: The Best of Prevention, 1997/editors of Prevention, Rodale Press,

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