Schedule Your Daily Diet

Just as you would schedule your workday with clearly defined meeting times, goals and to-do lists, Freston advises scheduling your eating and exercise habits to help hold yourself accountable. It might look like:

6:30 - Wake up, drink water
7:00 - Eat oatmeal with flaxseed, drink coffee with almond milk
8:30 - Drink water
10:00 - Have an apple, drink water

As you move through the day, you’ll be organized, on track and feel accomplished as you check things off your list.

Stop For Five Minutes

One key element of weight loss that many people overlook is how important it is to think beyond just what you’re putting in your mouth. “We are emotional beings,” says Freston. “So if we don’t tweak the way we think about and approach the food, we’re not going to be successful.” She recommends stopping for five minutes a day, closing your eyes and reviewing your mental and physical state of being. Then when you have a plate of food in front of you, you’ll be less likely to over-eat as a way of self-soothing because you’ve taken a moment to register how you’re feeling and why.

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Jenna Goudreau, Forbes Staff