How to search for hidden calories

Have you ever weighed yourself after weeks of dieting only to wonder why you haven't lost more weight? You stuck to the food on the list you gave yourself (or were given) and yet the scales are firmly stuck higher than you expected. It can be so disappointing and frustrating.

There can be many reasons that you don't loose weight as fast as you would like and one of those reasons can be hidden calories.

For example you may decide to get a take-away lunch at a well known chain that offers long bread rolls filled with meat, cheese and salad. They even display the low calorie options to help you choose your lunch. You choose chicken, avoid the cheese, have lots of salad and believe that you are doing really well. And then you choose a low fat dressing but what you may not be aware of is the amount of sugar in that dressing. In this case it is the dressing that has the hidden calories.

Nearly all sauces and dressings have sugar in them. Next time you want a sauce or dressing from a bottle have a look at the label first. The way to avoid the hidden calories is to use mustard (but not American mustard) or to make your own dressings using olive oil and lemon juice or natural yoghurt (not low fat) and lime (or lemon) zest and juice. You can also add spices, herbs and vinegars except Balsamic which has a very high sugar content.

One of the other big contenders in the hidden calorie category is the nibble. It is quite astonishing just how many extra calories you can consume by nibbling. Do you nibble when you cook or if there is food out? How about that little snack on the way home from a long day at work or when you are doing the food shop? You often forget about them because you didn't consume the food as part of a meal or on a plate. You can consume over a third of your required calories through nibbling. Some people chew gum to prevent them nibbling. Others carry a bottle of water everywhere and sip on that. Try adding some mint leaves and cucumber slices, or a slice of lemon or lime to your water.

Enjoy becoming a detective of hidden calories and celebrate the change it brings to your weight management.

love
Sarah