Fat 2 Fit: Words to Eat By—AARP

Words to Eat By

Ignore all the gimmicks fads and bad advice and heed these four simple rules of shedding pounds

Tired of contradictory strategies for losing weight? Eat low-fat. Eat no-fat. Some even say, "Eat low-carb and high-fat. Eat right for your blood or personality type. Bust sugar. Think your way to thinness." Perhaps different strategies work differently on different bodies. Nonetheless, some principles apply across the board: Take in fewer calories than your body needs to maintain your current weight. Finding foods you enjoy eating that keep you within your caloric target will help you stick with your diet. A positive eating program, rather than one based on willpower and denial, improves your chances of success.
As our mothers told us, life isn't fair. Some people can eat more without gaining weight. Genes aren't destiny, though. Work with the body you've got. Try to eat when you're hungry, not when you're starving. To stay in control, aim to eat three meals a day, plus healthy snacks. Get some satisfaction. Make sure you eat the foods you enjoy (in modest portions) and thoroughly enjoy the food you consume. That means turning off the television and putting away the paper while you eat. Deal with stress; don't stuff it. Stress changes the body's metabolism and may cause us to gain weight. Find ways to manage stress, and managing your eating will become easier. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

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