Good Housekeeping Drop a Dress Size

DIET DECODER QUIZ

By determining your personal diet pitfalls, you’ll be primed to transform your bad habits into weight-loss success, one small and healthy change at a time. This quick quiz will help you do just that. Circle your answers and tally your results on page 8.

1. When I’m hungry, fast food is an easy option; I often stop and grab something – chips, a burger or perhaps a doughnut.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

2. Although I never think about crisps and never buy them, if they’re in front of me (such as at a party), I’ll automatically snack on them.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

3. I’m usually not hungry in the morning, so I tend to leave the house without eating breakfast.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

4. I drink ‘energy’ or ‘health’ drinks.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

5. I drink juice, fizzy drinks or other sugary drinks a few times every day.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

6. When I am upset, I can eat a whole pizza (or a packet of biscuits or a carton of ice cream) in one sitting and still want more.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

7. While cooking or preparing food, I’ll have so many tastes that I’m not really hungry by the time I sit down to eat the meal.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

8. My hunger is often sudden and urgent, and, if I eat a large quantity of food, I feel guilty afterwards.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

9. Chips are my favourite vegetable.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

10. On very busy days, I may eat just once or twice a day.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

11. I often nibble on the foods my family/friends don’t finish, even when I’m full.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

12. Low-fat cereal/snack bars and sugar-free sweets are staples in my diet.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

13. A bad day at work or a family argument can trigger a binge.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

14. After a stressful day, food provides a welcome distraction from my anxious feelings.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

15. I have takeaway a few times a week.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

16. I have at least two beers, glasses of wine, or other alcoholic drinks four or more times a week.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

17. I have several cups of coffee or tea with sugar and/or cream or milk every day.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

18. While watching TV or a film, I reach for snacks whether I’m hungry or not.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

19. At a certain time of day, I find myself ravenous and searching for something to quiet my growling stomach.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

20. I’m never sure where or when I’ll have a real meal so I tend to eat on the go.

A. Rarely (0 points)

B. Sometimes (1 point)

C. Often (2 points)

D. Always (3 points)

ADD IT UP!

Add points from questions 1, 9, 12 and 15 for your

JUNK FOOD JUNKIE SCORE:

Add points from questions 2, 7, 11 and 18 for your

MINDLESS MUNCHER SCORE:

Add points from questions 3, 9, 10 and 20 for your

MEAL-SKIPPER SCORE:

Add points from questions 6, 8, 13 and 14 for your

EMOTIONAL EATER SCORE:

Add points from questions 4, 5, 16 and 17 for your

LIQUID CALORIE LOVER SCORE:

You may find that you indulge in more than one (or even all five) of the behaviours indicated opposite. That’s OK. If you have a score higher than six on any of them, just be sure to pay extra attention to the tips targeted at that habit. Throughout the book, the strategies have been tagged to identify the ones that will help you overcome your particular diet pitfalls.

Emotional eaters use food for more than fuel – it also serves as a friend and a comfort. Feelings such as sadness, loneliness, anger or frustration cause these eaters to turn to food for escape.

Junk food junkies fill up on nutrient-poor (empty-calorie) foods. Fast foods, sugary snacks, salty snacks and high-fat fare are the norm; vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other healthy foods are less frequent choices.

Liquid calorie lovers unwittingly load their diet with extra calories from drinks. Fizzy drinks, milkshakes, coffees, cocktails, smoothies, energy drinks and others spell trouble because of their calorific bottom line.

Meal skippers tend to have unbalanced eating patterns and often wait too long between meals. As a result, their meals are not planned or thought out, but rather are lastminute choices made wherever and whenever hunger takes over. They often end up making poor diet choices and cave in on cravings because they’re so famished.

Mindless munchers are all-day grazers and unconscious eaters who put food in their mouths out of habit or boredom, regardless of hunger. They’ll eat in front of the TV or automatically snack at a party, for example, paying little attention to their hunger cues. When mindless munchers start to track what they consume, they’re often surprised at how much they eat during the course of a day.

Remember, transforming just one or two of your daily diet habits can result in pounds lost and a slimmer, trimmer you – in just a few weeks!

CHANGE YOUR EATING HABITS FOREVER

To get you started, here are our top tips for slimming down and keeping the pounds off. Make these strategies your mantra, and you will drop that weight. Stick them on your wall, computer, dashboard – wherever you’ll see them – to keep you motivated.

1 Believe you can do it

You’ve already taken the first step by picking up this book. But if your dieting will wavers along the way, don’t give up. Think about what’s important in your life, such as your family, your job or your home. Now place yourself and your weight-loss goals and health at the top of that list. And don’t forget to acknowledge your successes, no matter how small. You avoided that chocolate bar from the vending machine today? Worth a secret inner high five at least! Dropped your first 1.4kg (3lb)? Surely justification for that new lipstick you’ve had your eye on.

2 Make the most of your calories

By selecting empty-calorie foods, you’re spending a lot for something that offers very little – like some insanely expensive, very trendy shoes that give you blisters and are difficult to walk in. They might be fun to wear on occasions, but most of the time you’ll want to wear something stylish and comfortable. If you’re economising on calories to lose weight, it makes sense to pack a lot of nutrition into what you eat. A food that’s loaded with fibre, vitamins and minerals but also low in calories is a nutritional bargain – it’s a nutrient-dense food. On the other hand, foods such as fizzy drinks and sweets will load you with lots of calories and are low in vitamins and minerals, making them low-nutrient, calorie-dense foods. Such foods are often called ‘empty-calorie’ foods, but describing them as empty of nutrients would be more accurate. And remember, nutrient-dense foods will fill you up for far longer than calorie-dense foods.

This doesn’t mean that chips, burgers, sweets and other less stellar choices are diet no-nos. The truth is that no food or drink is so high in calories, fat or sugar that including it on occasions in a diet that is healthy overall is going to sabotage your weight loss. Just be sure to keep your total calorie intake within the recommended limits (see here), and you’ll still drop a dress size. Here’s what to look for:

• Fruits and vegetables Rich in nutrients and low in calories, fruit and veg are a dieter’s best friend. There’s no such thing as a bad fruit or vegetable, but the more variety you eat, the better.

• Low-fat dairy These versions of milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese and so on, are packed with nutrition and have fewer calories than the regular versions.

• Lean proteins Lean meat, poultry and fish, as well as vegetarian choices such as beans and tofu, will help you feel full and stay that way.

• Whole grains Select fibre-rich, wholegrain foods such as oatmeal, wholemeal bread and wholegrain rice instead of refined grains such as white bread, white pasta and white rice.

• Healthy fats Choose olive and rapeseed oils, avocados, nuts and nut butters, seeds and olives – but remember, a little goes a long, long way. A drizzle of olive oil on your salad, a small handful of nuts with your cereal, or a few slices of avocado on your sandwich all add satiety and flavour.

3 Get the facts

Be your own food detective, online and off, and you’ll not only uncover surprises about what’s hiding in your food but you’ll also set yourself up for success. Check out In the Supermarket (Chapter 4) for tips on how to fill your trolley with the right foods, and Eating Out (Chapter 3) for the insider info you need to make the best choices, no matter where you dine. Read food labels, gather nutrition brochures from your favourite dining spots and go online to restaurant and food manufacturers’ websites to investigate. Also check out Good Housekeeping Calorie Counter for basic foods such as cereals, cheese and fruits, as well as popular brands.

4 Start moving

Multiple studies show that weight-loss efforts are vastly more successful when dieters reduce calories and increase their physical activity. The secret is to find activities you enjoy so that you’ll want to keep doing them. And don’t forget that everyday activities like gardening and walking up the stairs burn calories too. See Fitness First (Chapter 5) for lots of ideas on how to get more movement into your daily routine.

5 Change for good

Drop a Dress Size is designed to reveal your personal diet traps so that you can change your habits and (finally) shake off those extra pounds; however, if you don’t modify your habits for good, you won’t be able to solve your weight problems in the long term. As soon as your old eating habits return, so will the weight. Think about adopting the strategies you learn here permanently. It will help you to maintain your ultimate goal, whether it’s weight loss or healthier living.

Once you reach your desired weight, add about 100 calories to your daily intake. After a week, weigh yourself at your usual time, on your usual scales. If you have lost any weight, add another 100 calories to your daily total. Repeat until your weight remains stable – that’s