How To Stick To Your Weight Loss Diet Without Depriving Yourself

Deprivation is often associated with being on a diet. However, the truth is that diets which deprive you of food and leave you feeling hungry all the time have a very small chance of ever working.

Why?

Because if you’re feeling hungry, then your metabolism will automatically become slower. This is your body’s survival mechanism working perfectly – and there’s no way to stop it.

If you’re feeling hungry, you’re not burning calories. If you’re not burning calories, you’re not losing weight.

With this in mind, here are a few suggestions so you don’t feel deprived while you’re following a weight loss diet.

Firstly, see if you can find the time to have a quick salad before lunch and dinner. This will take the initial edge from your hunger, and cause you to eat less of your main meal – which means you’ll take in less calories, without feeling hungry.

However, watch the salad dressing – you don’t want to load your salad with calories, otherwise that defeats the point. Salsa will make a great low calorie, low fat dressing. You can add the juice of a lime for a little extra flavor punch if that’s something that appeals to you.

For more low cal, low fat salad dressing, just throw a tomato in the blender. You can also add fresh basil and a tablespoon of parmesan cheese for an alternative to Cesar salad.

Blend ½ an avocado with a tablespoon or so of cold chicken broth for a rich creamy garden goddess dressing. Mix lemon juice, lemon peel, freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of garlic salt with ½ cup non-fat mayonnaise.

But what if you’re craving for something sweet? Simply add one tablespoon of Hershey's chocolate syrup to one glass of ice cold soda water. Stir in ¼ cup of non-fat milk. You'll think you're drinking an ice cream soda – it’s delicious.

Air popped popcorn is another low calorie treat. Improve the flavor by adding chopped fresh herbs, cumin, or freshly ground pepper.

Do you ever miss your pasta but can't afford all of those carbs with your weight loss diet?

Simply use spaghetti squash as a replacement for the pasta. Cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds and roast in the oven until its soft. You can also cook in the microwave. Take a fork and scrap out the strands of squash. Add your favorite pasta sauce.

Or you can put the cooked squash in a baking pan sprayed with cooking spray. Add chopped fresh tomatoes, onions, green peppers and basil. Sprinkle with a tablespoon or two of parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 until cheese is melted and tomatoes are soft.

Here’s a tasty suggestion for when you want a low calorie but tasty dip for your vegetables.

Put a container of non-fat cottage cheese in the blender. Add herbs and spices to taste. Add chopped parsley, dried onion flakes, and either fresh or dried dill. Try cumin, oregano, and cilantro for a Mexican twist. You can make a garden dip by grating 3 or 4 radishes and half a cucumber. Add dried basil, oregano, and fennel seed for an Italian flavor or tarragon, garlic and thyme for a French flair.

As you can see, you don’t need to deprive yourself while you’re on a weight loss diet. You can still eat delicious foods, and you’re sure to discover your own favorite (and healthy) meals. Losing weight is about changing habits, not about depriving yourself.