Cook Your Way to Long-Term Weight Maintenance

The HMR Healthy Solutions Diet is an awesome plan for weight loss, whether you choose to diet with others in a group, or do the program on your own with HMR at Home. HMR shakes and entrees are delicious meal replacement options that provide the calorie-controlled structure that will help you succeed. Adding a minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day means you can create an endless variety of textures and flavors, so the diet is always fresh, new and exciting.

But dieters can sometimes fall into a rut. One person has the same HMR Chocolate Shake every morning like clockwork; another always eats HMR Turkey Chili on a baked potato for lunch. Because the diet works, and we like our routines, we want to stick to tried and true ways of doing things.

What difference does it make if the recipes we are making are just OK? Eating a bag of steamed veggies with an entree is only a Phase 1 solution... as soon as the weight comes off we’ll be able to enjoy the same old food again, right? Wrong.

If this sounds a little like you - it’s time to get in the kitchen and rattle those pots and pans! Now is the time to really start enjoying new (low-calorie) foods that will help you keep your weight off for good.

The truth is, that your life (in and) beyond Phase 1 of the HMR Program is going to have to look a little different than it did before, and the sooner you embrace all the yummy food awaiting you, the better! These days it’s easier than ever to find simple recipes with few ingredients that pack a culinary punch. Library shelves are full of cookbooks and the internet is buzzing with bloggers eager to share their recipes and tips.

If you don’t consider yourself a cook, and you feel overwhelmed in the kitchen, start with a plan to make just one new recipe a week.

Here Are a Few Quick Tips to Get You Cooking:
 

1. Start your recipe search right here on the HMRdiet site. Choose four recipes you would like to try and your month’s plan is ready to go. Write the recipes in your plan book and bookmark the pages online or print them out. Commit to your efforts and be accountable. You never know which new recipe might save your week!
2. Next, look for cookbooks and blogs that focus on fruits and vegetables. Google vegetarian or vegan recipes, and specify a vegetable - search “vegetarian potato recipe” or “vegan eggplant recipe.” Modify these as necessary by replacing oil with water or vegetable broth. Choose four at a time and commit to the recipes by writing your plans in your plan book. Print (or bookmark) the recipes and keep them in a visible place, or use sticky notes to mark the pages in your cookbook.
3. Update your kitchen, if necessary. Purchase a decent chopping knife and cutting board, or sharpen the knives you already have. Make sure you have an accurate set of measuring cups and spoons. Add new spices to your pantry. Buy a garlic press and a food processor. A little investment in good equipment goes a long way towards making your cooking time more pleasant. (Having a couple of nice aprons is a great idea, too!)
4. Be confident and creative. If you think a dash of hot sauce and a sprinkle of cilantro is just what your new dish needs - go for it! Unlike baking recipes which are more like chemistry and need to be followed exactly, you can treat cooking recipes more like guidelines. If you prefer cauliflower to broccoli - mix it up!
5. Add LOVE. It may sound silly, but in many traditions and cultures, cooking is a sacred act and the most important ingredients are the intangible ones. Take your time and have fun. Enjoy the colors, smells and textures. Preparing and offering food is a profoundly nourishing act - so put in your best intentions. You and your fellow diners will feel it!

Choosing the HMR Healthy Solutions Diet is an awesome first step on the path to a healthier lifestyle. When you open the kitchen door, you walk into a new world of delight where you can cook your way to long-term weight maintenance.

Which new recipes will you try this week?

 

by luv2run on 03/04/2013 | Share Story With a Friend

tags: Weight-Loss, HMR, Recipes, strategies