Nutrition Programs for a Healthy Heart - February 2009 Shaklee Newsletter

If you're like most Americans who have tried to diet and failed, chances are you made one or more of the following mistakes.   The good news is that you can break the yo-yo diet cycle, once and for all, with Cinch!

Mistake #1:   Going too long without food.

Many overweight people skip breakfast and really eat very little until dinner time. The problem here is two-fold. You need that breakfast meal first thing in the morning to rev up your metabolism. In addition, the nagging hunger resulting from not eating early in the day leads to poor food choices later on.
Little known fact: 100% of people who have lost significant weight and kept it off 5 years or more eat breakfast!

Cinch Tip: A Cinch Shake and a Cinch 3-in-1 Boost, plus a piece of fruit provides the vitamins, minerals and protein to get your day started right and you'll feel better!

Mistake #2:   Banking Calories.

You know the routine. You have that big party coming up tomorrow, so you'll just eat a little less today to "even it out". That comes under the category of "wishful thinking". The calories you save today almost never equal the calories you will consume at the party. The key is to employ healthy eating strategies at the party. So plan to eat a little bit of high-protein, low-calorie food ahead of time, then you won't go to the party hungry and overeat on poor food choices. Also, consume alcohol sparingly - it has lots of calories and it revs up the appetite. With your appetite in check, you won't mind eating small portions or skipping some items entirely.

The bottom line is that these strategies work! Skipping meals beforehand, so you can eat whatever you want at the party doesn't work. It just leads to overeating. It's that simple!

Cinch Tip: Have a Cinch snack bar or meal bar just before leaving for the party.

Mistake #3:   Skimping on protein.

Protein is metabolized more slowly, which keeps those hunger pangs at bay. One study showed that people who started the day with two eggs consumed 300 calories less during the day than someone who started the day with a bagel that supplied the same number calories as the eggs. Adequate protein also helps preserve lean muscle mass. Lean muscle mass positively affects metabolism!

Cinch Tip: Of course, when we talk about adding protein and preserving lean muscle mass, a Cinch shake is the all time champion because of its 24 grams of protein and added leucine.

Mistake #4: Drastically cutting calories.

You can lose weight fast on a very low calorie diet, but you make yourself so miserable in the process that you are almost certain to go back to your old eating habits. In addition, very low calorie diets almost always lead to a loss of muscle mass, which lowers metabolic rate and makes it almost inevitable that you will regain all of the lost weight - and then some. Experts tell us that slow and steady weight loss is the best way to go for sustained success. It's important then to follow an eating plan that you can stick with for the rest of your life.

Cinch Tip: The Cinch Inch Loss Plan excels on both of those points. If you make those delicious protein shakes and healthy eating plans a permanent part of your life, you will not only loose the weight, you'll feel satisfied, have more energy and you'll normalize your weight, too. And, remember that the Cinch protein shakes help you preserve your muscle mass. You will look and feel your best!

Mistake #5:   Denying yourself treats.

It's difficult to succeed at giving up your favorite foods - so set yourself up for early and continued success. If you have a favorite snack, divide it up into reasonable serving size packets as soon as you bring it home and enjoy it in moderation. Or create a healthier version of an old "family favorite" recipe.

Cinch Tip: What people love about the Cinch Plan is that they don't have to give up their favorite foods. Cinch helps you to feel fuller, eat less, want less and still enjoy foods you love.

Mistake #6:   Taking weekends off.

The reasoning here is essentially the same as the advice not to "bank" calories in anticipation of that big party. The problem is that some people are very good during the week and then treat the weekend as one big party. If you overeat on Saturday and Sunday, you're overeating 29% of the time. It's almost impossible to make up for that by sensible eating during the rest of the week. Feel good about yourself by taking care of yourself!

Avoid these six deadly mistakes and make the Cinch Inch Loss Plan a part of your daily life. That's a winning combination for a healthy lifestyle, and reaching and maintaining your ideal weight.