New Year, New You

                            Happy New Year                                         from

The Chocolate Mousse

Too many of us are familiar with this scenerio... the New Year's ball drops, you vow to keep your distance from carbs and spend the rest of the year on the treadmill, but two weeks into January, your motivation plummets, your sugar cravings have become difficult to ignore, and you've skipped more than just a few days at the gym. Come February, your sneakers have collected dust and you've forgotten all about your New Year's resolution.

Well here we are almost 2 weeks into the 2012 and I'd like to give you some tricks to help keep you motivated to make this year your most successful yet.

- Think of your goal and all of the reasons this dream is great for you and will improve your life. Stay focused  on getting and staying slimmer. Weight loss motivation is easy... at first. Progress, compliments, feeling more attractive, and having more energy is motivating, captivating, but the honeymoon period inevitably ends. So put together a Vision / Dream Board http://www.ehow.com/how_4678676_goal-board.html These will help to keep you motivated and accountable to your end resultand beyond!

- Mind over matter - think slim. Ask yourself these questions:
   o What do you experience just before you eat something?
   o Do you tussle with yourself? "I really shouldn't... but I want to!"
   o Do you imagine how the food will taste, even feel in the mouth?
   o Do you focus on the real consequences, rather than the temporary satisfactions of eating?

People who are overweight tend to seek immediate satisfaction in the taste and feel of the food, while people who are thin usually imagine how the food will feel heavy in their stomachs for so long after they've eaten. When you're tempted to eat something, practice imagining how you will feel ten minutes or an hour after you've consumed that weight-increasing food. Keep it up until this becomes a natural habit for you.

- You are the company you keep... Surround yourself with slim people. I'm not saying you should dump all your curvier friends, but research has shown that the average body type of the people you surround yourself with has an effect on your weight and size. Start palling around with slimmer, fitter types and your subconscious will pick up the new patterns. Even better... workout with your friends as a group... after all "it takes a village".

- Be fair to yourself. You will do GREAT, but you may have a slip, a bad
day or a 'weak moment'. That doesn't mean you have "completely blown it"! Perfectionism is a trap. Aim to eat sensibly and healthfully most of the time, not all the time. We all over indulge now and then.

- Eat when you're hungry - and eat well. Aim For 5 Servings Of Fruits And Veg Per Day - Fruit and vegetables taste delicious and there's so much variety to choose from. They're a good source of vitamins and minerals, and dietary fiber. They can also help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Fruit and vegetables are low in fat and calories and high in taste


- Congratulate and reward yourself when you have met your smaller goals to help you keep motivated.

Good luck in sticking with the resolutions and shedding the pounds.

Enjoy!
Chef Heather