Official Blog of WeddingShape.com

Smart-Snacking Tips
Lose weight for your wedding with these simple strategies

If you’re committed to a fitness routine and you’re doing your best to eat right every day, you’re well on your way to a healthy body that looks and feels fabulous.

But if you’re stuck (you just can’t get the scale to budge) you might be sabotaging your efforts without even knowing it.

The hidden-calorie enemy? Snacks.

We turn to snacks as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up or as a nighttime staple after dinner. And the choices we make are usually where we go wrong.

There is hope, however, and such a thing as smart snacking. Here are some tips to keep you on track:

> Arm yourself with single-serving snack packs. Fortunately, manufacturers are giving consumers a grab-and-go single serving option of their goodies. These packages help you to keep your portions – and calories – under control. A few baked whole-wheat pita chips might be a healthy snack, but a 16-ounce bag of them certainly is not!

> Weigh your food. No. Really. Weigh it. The weight of food – not just the fat and calories – is what fills you up. So you can eat less and still feel satisfied during your mid-afternoon snack. Smart choices include oranges, strawberries, grapefruit and cantaloupe.

> When choosing fruit as your smart snack food of choice, follow the rainbow. Turns out the compounds, vitamins and minerals in produce that are good for you are also responsible for the pigments that give them their color.

> If carbs are calling, consult the GI to find low glycemic index foods. The reason? Low GI foods move glucose into your blood stream slowly to keep your energy level on an even keel and allow you to feel fuller longer between meals. Instead of white bread, choose whole wheat. Rather than pretzels, reach for popcorn. Try dried fruit instead of jelly beans. And splurge for a sweet potato instead of a baked potato.

Remember, too, that portion control is key to managing your weight and spurring weight loss if that’s your goal. And if you’re happy with your weight, these tips can help keep you on track.

Want secrets to smart snacking, losing weight, and toning up? You'll look and feel fabulous when you follow WeddingShape, the ultimate bridal body-sculpting plan.