A Guest Blog by Registered Dietitian Leslie Goldstein of HealthyStepNutrition.com

Every year you make a resolution to lose those ten pounds, but do you continue to stick to your plan after January 31^st?  This year, make a resolution to make some changes to your diet instead of going on a diet!  Those “grapefruit only diets” are no fun and never last anyways…

Some small changes that you can make each day:

1. Start your day with breakfast- You’ve heard it before, but breakfast starts your metabolism for the day and will give you energy to last you until lunch.  If you skip the meal you will only become more ravenous at lunchtime, which leads to overeating!
2. Increase fiber- This will increase your feeling of fullness and it will also help you reduce your cholesterol (probably another resolution?)
3. Have less sweets- Try to have that Crumbs cupcake (http://www.crumbs.com/) only once a week and have fruit at night the other days of the week.  If you really have a sweet tooth, try these new blackberry sorbet pops I discovered that are only 70 calories! (http://ciaobellagelato.com/)
4. Drink more water- If you think you are hungry or are craving a snack, drink a cup of water and wait 20 minutes to see if your craving subsides.  Not a fan of water?  Try unsweetened iced tea or hint- a new flavored water with no added sugar that comes in 10 different flavors! (http://www.drinkhint.com/)
5. Join a gym today!  What better time than the New Year to kick your exercise plan into gear.  Better yet, during this time of year many gyms are offering discounts.  Not interested in joining a gym? Take advantage of the west side highway pathway and take a walk or run each day. But bundle up. It is January, after all.
6. Stick to a schedule and try to eat every 3-4 hours.  Have 3 meals a day and include snacks during the day.  This will ensure you get all the nutrients your body needs. 
7. Learn to try new foods- this will prevent boredom in your diet and keep you on track as well!  You can even try new varieties of seasonal foods such as broiled grapefruit (just so you can get your grapefruit fix!).

How do you plan on staying fit and in shape in 2012?

•  “I’m definitely joining a new fitness class”
•  “I’m going on a fruit only diet”
•  “I’ll start walking with a walking buddy”
•  “I think I’ll start having light beer on weekends”

- Leslie Goldstein, RD

Leslie Goldstein is a Registered Dietitian (RD) practicing in North Bergen and Hoboken, New Jersey. Leslie is an avid exerciser who combines her nutrition knowledge and passion with motivational support in counseling to help her clients make lifestyle changes. Leslie specializes in weight management, general wellness, Diabetes, bariatric surgery, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Leslie accepts most major insurances. Telephone and/or online consults available.

www.healthystepnutrition.com
8100 Kennedy Blvd. North Bergen, NJ 07047
Ph: 201-378-3287
Email: LeslieGoldsteinRD@gmail.com