Being it college, it’s hard to eat healthy. We are constantly bombarded with temptation. But we can fight back. It’s sometimes hard to believe, but a lot of staying thin is in our minds. True, we need to eat healthy, not pig out, etc, but the key to doing this is in our heads, not some fancy trick-diet.

WebMD recently published a list of 8 Ways to Think Thin. Here is the list, along with my personal thoughts.

Picture Yourself Thin.

If you want to be thin, picture yourself thin. Visualize your future self, six months to a year down the road, and think of how good you’ll look and feel without the extra pounds. Dig up old photographs of your thinner self and put them in a place as a reminder of what you are working toward. Ask yourself what you did back then that you could incorporate into your lifestyle today. And, advises Peeke, think about activities you would like to do but can’t because of your weight.

“To break old habits, you need to see yourself in a positive light,” Peeke says.

This is a great one, because you can look back on positive memories and remember how you used to eat, what you used to do for exercise, etc. For me personally, I can look back and remember that one of my big keys was riding horses a lot, but also that I did not snack as much. I would eat like a normal person; a little breakfast, an average lunch, an “after-school” snack, and something for dinner. I didn’t go back for seconds even though I wasn’t full. If I was full, I didn’t eat. If I was hungry, then I would eat. Look back on your old eating habits and see how you can revert or incorporate them into your life today.

Have Realistic Expectations.

When doctors ask their patients how much they want to weigh, the number is often one that is realistically attainable. Peeke has her patients identify a realistic weight range, not a single number.

“I ask them to look ahead 12 months, and would they be happier being 12 or 24 pounds thinner?” she says “It only amounts to 1-2 pounds per month, which is totally doable, sustainable and manageable in the context of career and family.” She suggests reevaluating your weight goal after six months.

This is particularly important. If you are really gung-ho about going and eating healthy, and truly changing your life, then you can see big changes. But if you would rather just slow down, change your ways in a slow or minor fashion, you are not going to see drastic weight changes. Maybe you will at first, but as time goes in your weight loss is going to slow down, and at times completely halt. Right now, in early May, we know we all want to look our best for the beach season, but it’s much healthier to slowly change your ways, and be happy with these small changes. Even if by July you’ve only lost 2-3 pounds, your still going to look sharper than you did in May, right?

Set Small Goals.

Make a list of smaller goals that will help you achieve your weight loss goals. These mini-goals should be things that will improve your lifestyle without wreaking havoc in your life, such as:

• Eating more fruits and vegetables every day.
• Getting some kind of physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day.
• Drinking alcohol only on the weekends.
• Eating low-fat popcorn instead of chips,
• Ordering a side salad instead of French fries.
• Being able to walk up a flight of stairs without gasping for breath.

“We all know that change is hard and it is especially difficult if you try to make too many changes, so start small and gradually make lifestyle improvements,” suggests Sass.

Can’t disagree with this tip, and it would be hard to say more. Keep it simple. Have a drink of water instead of soda, even milk or juice is better. Have a salad when you go to get dinner. It will fill you up with goodness so you will eat less (and then you have leftovers!) Here’s a big one: stop eating when you’re full. Don’t eat if you’re not hungry. I realize I’ve already said this, and you will probably hear it a lot, but it is the easiest, simplest way to lose weight. Plus – if you eat when you’re full, then you get uncomfortable. Who wants to be uncomfortable? And are those few extra bites (or the extra plate) really worth your discomfort? Not only will you be temporary uncomfortable from eating too much, but being heavier is uncomfortable as well.

Get Support.

We all need support, especially during the tough times. Find a friend, family member or support group you can connect with on a regular basis. Studies show people who are connected with others, whether it’s in person or online, do better than dieters who try to go it alone.

For many people, food is their comfort. When you take a look at why you’re eating, you can step back and change it. “Wow I’m really sad because I got a D on my math exam.” Instead of diving for the cookie, cupcake, bowl of ice cream, why don’t you go talk to a good friend? Or call a parent? Eating will not solve your emotions. Talking to people will.

Create a Detailed Action Plan.

Sass suggests that each night, you plan your healthy meals and fitness for the next day. Planning ahead is 80% of the battle. If you’re equipped with a detailed plan, results will follow.

“Schedule your fitness like you would an appointment,” Sass says. “Pack up dried fruits, veggies or meal replacement bars so you won’t be tempted to eat the wrong kinds of foods.”

Make your health a priority by building such steps into your life, and ultimately these healthy behaviors will become a routine part of your life.

Have healthy food ready for those busy mornings; keep a “sandwich kit” for when you don’t have much time to make lunch. Plan ahead as to what you’ll eat for dinner, be it at a restaurant, at home, or at school. Keep easy, healthy snacks around so you have something to grab in a bind. In other words, make your own fast food. Not only will it save your weight, but it will save you money too.

Reward Yourself.

Give yourself a pat on the back with a trip to the movies, a manicure, or whatever will help you feel good about your accomplishments (other than food rewards).

“Reward yourself after you have met one of your mini-goals or lost 5 pounds or a few inches around your waist, so you recognize your hard work and celebrate the steps you are taking to be healthier,” Peeke says.

Yay, Rewards.

Ditch Old Habits.

Old habits die hard, but you can’t continue to do things the way you used to if you want to succeed at weight loss.

“Slowly but surely, try to identify where you are engaging in behaviors that lead to weight gain and turn them around with little steps that you can easily handle without feeling deprived,” says Sass.

For example, if you are an evening couch potato, start by changing your snack from a bag of cookies or chips to a piece of fruit. The next night, try having just a calorie-free drink. Eventually, you can start doing exercises while you watch television.

Another way to get started ditching your bad habits: Get rid of the tempting, empty-calorie foods in your kitchen and replace them with healthier options.

Old habits die hard, so kill them mercilessly.

Keep Track.

Weigh in regularly and keep journals detailing what you eat, how much you exercise, your emotions, and your weight and measurements. Studies show that keeping track of this information helps promote positive behaviors and minimize the unhealthy ones. Simply knowing that you’re tracking your food intake could help you resist that piece of cake!

“Journals are a form of accountability … that help reveal which strategies are working” says Peeke. “When you are accountable, you are less likely to have food disassociations, or be ‘asleep at the meal.”

Know what you eat, even if you keep a mental running note, it’s better than being clueless. Keep in mind of you already had a serving of ice cream today, or what you had for your last snack. Knowing will help you keep your food choices balanced and make better decisions.

8 Ways to Think Thin – WebMD