It’s no secret that we are pulling up to the dining table to face portions that are weighing us down. I was at brunch on Sunday and the restaurant portion that I received was enough to fill up four people. It’s a marketing strategy by the food industry to make the customers feel like they are getting a good value for their dollar.

The psychology is even moving to the home front.  Twenty years ago a Hungry Man frozen meat entree would be enough to satisfy one person, but is now considered an appetizer. With all the super-sizing going on today no wonder it’s difficult to know how to right-size portions. Changing your behavior isn’t easy, but very rewarding when you imagine being confident with your fit body at your next networking event.

Here are 7 Smart Steps to Right-Size Your Portions:

1. Prepare Less - Your family eats what you offer. Large volumes of food encourage people to eat more. If you’ve doubled the recipe, freeze the left-overs.

2. Eat Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner at the table - Eating these three meals while driving, watching tv, standing in your kitchen or at your computer doesn’t allow you to slow down, enjoy your meal, or give your brain time to register fullness.

3. Eat Half, Wait 10 Minutes – By waiting and listening to your internal signals of hunger and satisfaction, you can be satisfied with smaller than usual portions.

4. Always Order the Small Size - If you are at a fast-food restaurant, go for the small items. Or, choose the kid-size meal.

5. Never Eat Out of the Bag - Eating out of the box, bag, carton usually means you eat more. Dish out a portion and put the container away.

6. Have a Plan Before You Order – With tempting photos and descriptions of foods on the menu you will tend to order a dish that is enough to satisfy four people. Go to the table with a plan.

7. Share a Meal – You will be certain to cut down on the unwanted calories.

I challenge you to print out these 7 steps. Put them by your refrigerator, on your dashboard, in your bag and anywhere else that will trigger you to review them. The more time you spend thoughtfully considering what your body really needs the more you will right-size your portions.

You don’t just wake up one day having stumbled into an additional 10, 20 or 30 plus pounds. You have taken steps to get there.  And, you CAN redirect your steps.

You ARE capable of a balance between the brilliance of your business and your body.

Step up!

If you’re seeking lifelong success by:

• Shedding fat that is holding you from SOARING
• Stopping STRESS eating that’s weighing you down
• Creating healthy food habits
• Becoming sexy, AGAIN
• Living the SEEDS OF GREATNESS

Achieving long-term success is not done at the tactical level.  The secret is for you to get the 30 thousand foot overhead view.

That is the purpose of the Skinny Jeans Telesummit.  Are you joining us, it’s FREE, but PRICELESS.

Being maximally productive to crank out products and services of tremendous value requires energy, and lots of it!  However, many people choose to invest in the accessories – website make-over, flashy power point slides, software, another training seminar, a posh outfit, etc – before considering to invest in their physical fitness.

Hey, clients aren’t buying your stuff (website, powerpoint slide, elevator speech)…really.  They are buying what you are able to uniquely serve up that impacts their lives.  How about offering them your best?  Which begs the question:  Are you truly giving from your best position?

Leaders Who Are Smashing it!

I work with many successful speakers and trainers.  They are all passionate about their work and their commitment to physical fitness increases their energy to blow away the competition.

What is clear to me is that after investing in their physical fitness my clients’ specific content doesn’t change.  They don’t all of a sudden get more knowledge to pass on to their customers.  However, the energy around delivering their message does increase.

Cost of Your Handicap

If you’re not making time for personal care and creating a holy hour  it is not only hurting your optimal health but your ability to serve your customers and get paid for doing it well.

Holding space for regular exercise will raise your game.  The truth is that if you are educated, disciplined and focused on the goal of being physically fit the end result will be that you look and feel dynamic.

After the Honeymoon

After, the courting phase with your fitness wanes and the lusty newness wears off the real challenges set in.  Travel, family and work obligations look more attractive.  But, mastery over your weight, strength and energy are achievable.

I encourage you to get a mentor or buddy to hold you accountable.

And, I’m in the business of building champions.  What I know for sure is that everyone has a champion inside.  But the champion inside of each one of us requires that we make the choice to step into our big girl shoes each day.

Step up!

I did.

Click here to read it if you’re ready to step it up with your Big Girl Shoes on!

Best of Energy!

Ashley

Many of my clients work hard with their exercise – high intensity fat burning cardio intervals and plenty of resistance training to build lean muscle. But, one of the common barriers to achieving the lean, sculpted look is the layer of fat that is draped over those beautiful toned muscles.

Nutrition is the key to success. I follow the 80/20 rule. 20 percent of what you look like is attributed to your exercise habit and 80 percent is from nutrition. And, frankly, when a client gets down to the last 8-12lbs that rule becomes truth.

I’m having many of my clients start the New Year off one of my favorite herbal cleanses (not a fast). Eliminating the sugar and caffeine cravings, protecting and feeding lean muscle is the goal for the first 10 days. Add plenty of fiber, vegetables, lean fish and poultry.

Best of Energy!

- Ashley