Yo yo diets.Among a lot of people it is a very common theme.  “I just need to lose this holiday weight”, sound familiar?  What you may not know is that yo-yo dieting is actually more harmful to your health than simply being overweight.Therefore, here are several tips to help you not only lose weight but also to keep it off for good.

 
Drink More Water - Sometimes thirst is disguised as hunger. 
Drinking plenty of water will help keep you feeling full so you don’t eat so much.Add a lemon, this will help keep you system moving.
 
Eat A Healthy Breakfast – Doing this sets a positive tone for your day to come.  High quality nutrition shakes or an omelet with veggies are great choices. These both taste great and will give you the energy to keep you going through the morning. To avoid the "carb crash" that comes from eating only oatmeal and/or fruit, be sure to have some protein to sustain your energy and blood sugar levels.  While there are many choices of shakes, Shakeology is one the best available and has numerous healthy ingredients proven to be beneficial for losing weight.
Bring Healthy Snacks Wherever You Go – Always have something good to eat on hand.  Raw nuts & seeds, trail mix, organic or natural bars & shakes are all good choices.  Anything to keep you from pulling into the “lane to weight gain” known as the drive-thru.  If you’re always on the go and short on time, nutrition shakes are again a healthy and convenient alternative.
 
Eat The Good Stuff First – Chowing down on the healthy foods first will keep you from overeating all of the other stuff.This could mean the difference between having just one piece of pie or two. 
 
Be Gentle With Yourself – Don’t beat yourself up for enjoying the occasional treats.  If you’ve been good to yourself you deserve a reward.Remember, you can get right back on track with your next meal or the next day.The best way to do this is to give yourself one "cheat day" to eat whatever your heart desires, but be sure to eat flawlessly the to other six days of the week.   Eat Plenty Of Protein & Veggies The Day Following A Sweet Binge – In the event that you do binge, this is the best recovery method.This helps sustain energy and blood sugar levels. 
 
Go For A Walk – Walking first thing in the morning (starting your day off on the right note again) or right before a meal is ideal.This will easily help you relax.  Walk with someone and chat away.When you have a friend to walk and talk with the time will fly by. Thirty minutes is plenty.
 
Take A Few Deep Breaths Right Before Your Meal – This allows you to relax which helps you to digest properly and enjoy the experience.
 
Chew! – Don’t be a human vacuum.  The food is not going anywhere and there is always plenty left over.I promise this is easier than it sounds, but, be sure to chew every bite a minimum of 30 times but up to 50 is ideal.  This give the enzymes that are found in our saliva time to be absorbed by the food so that our stomachs can digest them more easily.  Which in turn will help you feel full faster.
 
Rest More - Some days are more stressful and busy than others. Taking a 20-30 minute hiatus can work wonders.  Make it a point to do something each day to relax.  Baths, deep breathing, yoga, listening to soothing music, sitting by the fireplace and meditation are all good choices.
 
Give – Whether you donate time, money, food or clothes, do something to help those that are less fortunate.Helping others in need can create a unique and beneficial feeling that cannot be put into words.  Being healthy is so much more than just what we eat or drink.  It’s about nourishing the body, mind and soul in many different ways that make you feel your best.