Iowahippiechick

“Sticking to a budget and monitoring nutrition both require a certain level of discipline.” says Kevin Martin, executive vice president of personal financial services for HSBC Bank USA.  “The rules for both are the same:  Set targets for yourself; decide where you can cut back; recognize, then try to break bad or excessive habits; be organized; have patience; and reward yourself when milestones are reached.”

Do you agree? Or not?

Personally, I agree with Mr. Martin.  When I’m staying on top of my personal fitness and health habits - I am usually  making good choices in other areas of my life, including finances.

Here are some terrific healthy habits that may improve your physical (& fiscal fitness)

• Start dinner with a first course -  Always begin with either a big salad or bowl of vegetable soup.  Which are low in calories but fill you up because they contain so much water.  (Research from Penn State University has shown that this technique can cut your total calories at meal time by 20%.)
• Enjoy unlimited snacks -  Unlimited foods are nonstarchy vegetables like peppers, carrots, celery, and cucumbers.
• Walk off cravings - A recent British study found that chocolate lovers had reduced cravings after taking a brisk 15 minute walk.
• Avoid trigger foods - Identify your personal trigger foods (Foods you just can’t stop eating once you’ve begun.) and avoid them at all cost.
• Get your head in the game -Success starts in the head, moves to the heart, and lastly involves the mouth and stomach.
• Double up on the good stuff - Eliminate 1 cup of starch every night and double up on nonstarchy veggies.
• Eliminate extras - Don’t nibble … every bite counts!
• Cut back on sweets, real and artificial - Some studies suggest that even diet soda and artificially sweetened foods can lead to weight gain.  (Maybe because fake sugars keep sweetness on our taste buds and minds.)

Tips excerpted from “Joy’s Life Diet” by Joy Bauer.

personal finance

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