Eating to live, not living to eat

Right, time to start planning how I'm going to begin to overhaul my diet. I think these methods I've used before will still benefit me, my main downfall last year was allowing bad habits to creep back in. This time around I want to make sure that doesn't happen.

No more Coke!
Apparently most people forget to add the calories from drinks onto their daily totals, but I am very aware that I drink too much of the fizzy stuff. From now on it's water all the way, and low-calorie sparkling peach water as a treat (the aspartame-free stuff thanks). So not only will I automatically be dropping 1000kcal+ per week, but I'll have a dazzling smile and glowing skin. Here's hoping!

No more takeaways
On the way to my local Tesco I have to pass a KFC, 3 chip shops, 2 pizza places, 2 Indians and numerous Chinese takeaways, so is it any surprise that I hardly ever cook? This has to change! As of January 1st I will be getting reacquainted with my kitchen.

Eat more!
As in, more often. I currently commit the cardinal sin of skipping breakfast, which leads to eating a big lunch and an even bigger dinner. I'm planning on eating 5-6 "mini-meals" each day, such a cliche, but it really does work. Those meals might be anything from a cereal bar, a piece of fruit, or a rice cake with peanut butter (mmm.. peanut butter..) to a chicken fajita or a small bowl of vegetable stew. Hello turbo-charged metabolism.

Find healthy alternatives
I never want to feel deprived, even when I'm cutting certain things out of my diet, so I've already stocked up on a few "cheat" items to have as treats. Instead of crisps I'll be having Nairns Oat Bakes, in sweet chilli (low in calories, fat and salt). I'll be making some ice lollies out of fruit juice or squash, and I hear grapes are really good frozen. Cereal or fruit bars make a nice alternative to chocolate, although they can be just as high in sugar. Finding healthier cooking methods can also make a difference; I tend to make fajitas quite often, so will be experimenting with cooking the chicken in water rather than oil, and adding chilli flakes, in the hopes they will help to boost my metabolism.

Not allowing one "bad" meal to turn into a whole weekend of indulgence
This is where I went wrong the first time. Each Friday I go to my parent's house and we have a Chinese takeaway, which would be fine, except I have a tendency to then go off the rails for the rest of the weekend. I see no reason why I can't carry on with the Chinese meal, as long as I can leave it at that; a meal. And of course there will be other occasions that call for high-calorie meals and a drink or ten, but not being much of a socialite, these won't be a regular occurrence and won't be the end of the world.

So there we have it. Putting all of that down in print has helped me gather my thoughts a little, and rather than petrified, I feel confident and raring to go. Now I just have to scoff the rest of my Christmas chocolate before tomorrow night, you know, to get rid of the temptation...