The Truth About Meal Planning For Women

Trisha Yearwood is the host of "Trisha's Healthy Recipes" and the creator of the popular cookbook, "The Truth about Weight Loss." She's also worked with Dr. Michael Allen and Dr. Robert Atkins. Years before her appearance on "The Biggest Loser," Yearwood was a contestant on "Dancing with the Stars." During the show, she revealed that she used to eat very few calories. From that experience, she developed her own weight loss recipes, which she shares on her website. Here are her top three tips for success in your weight loss journey:

One - Learn about portion control. Most of us know that it's good to limit calories, especially at dinner. But did you know that you don't always need to count every single calorie you consume? All you have to do is think about how much food you can eat in twenty-four hours, and follow this rule every day. You'll find that when you're hungry you'll eat less. This will keep you from overeating later on in the day.

Two - Avoid eating anything in excess during meals. This includes having two major snacks per day. Your morning snack should be a light but nutritious meal such as fruit. In the afternoon, have a light salad with low-fat dressing. For dinner, make a vegetable dish and enjoy it while you wait for the other meals to be cooked.

Three - Be creative with meal replacement options. In the morning, have a cup of coffee or tea with a meal that's formulated to replace one meal. For lunch, substitute a fatty meal for another one. For dinner, snack on raisins instead of potato chips. Or have yogurt and fruit for a complete source of protein in between meals.

Four - Get some exercise. Exercise releases endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. The more endorphins you feel, the less you want food. Also, your workouts to burn fat and build muscle, which gives you more energy throughout the day. Exercise doesn't have to be strenuous. Twenty minutes walking around the block every day is enough.

Five - Watch what you eat. Try to eliminate foods that contain a lot of sugar, salt or preservatives. These types of food add stress to your entire body and can prevent you from losing weight in a healthy fashion. Instead, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Six - Be creative with food choices. While this may seem discouraging at first because you don't like to cook, cooking your own meals is a great way to keep your meals interesting and keep your energy level high throughout the day. Try making something different each day. For instance, on Monday you could make an all-day casserole. On Tuesday you could make a quiche. On Wednesday you could make a sumptuous stew or soup, while on Thursday you could have a light yet filling pasta dish.

By keeping up these simple but effective principles you are sure to soon be on your way to losing weight, just the way Trisha yearwood was able to do. Make sure to stay active and you'll be surprised at how fast you lose it. Eat healthily and enjoy your meals. Try out one of the Trisha yearwood weight loss books and see for yourself what it can do for you. It can change your life.

At first glance the book may seem daunting, especially since there are more pages than you are likely to remember. However, each page contains informative tips, such as how to choose healthy foods and prepare them, as well as suggestions on which meats are healthier and which fats are better. Each day you will be given specific recipes, which you should follow to the letter. Some of the recipes themselves may be surprising in their flavor, yet they will not seem like a big effort to you. As you go through the book, you will find that you are motivated to eat healthier, yet you might find yourself craving a taste of something you used to enjoy, such as hot dogs.

Each meal in this cookbook includes a recommended amount of protein and a recommended amount of carbohydrates. This means that no matter what your particular needs may be, whether you are trying to gain weight or maintain your current weight, the plan will be able to accommodate you. You don't have to follow the exact plans that Trisha Yearwood outlines for you, but you will find that each day contains a variety of tasty recipes that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you with satisfying results every time. If you are trying to gain weight, you should eat more meals per day, but if you are looking to maintain your current weight, you should follow the same meal plan every single day.

In addition to the benefit of having tasty and healthy meals every day, you also have the added benefit of portion control. If you are someone who finds it difficult to limit your calories or you simply don't feel comfortable counting each and every food that you eat, this may be a solution to your problem. Since each meal is accompanied by its own recommended amount of protein and carbohydrate, you can choose to portion your meals and stay within your own personal calorie range. When you follow the Trisha Yearwood Weight Loss plan, you will soon find that you will have the energy and satisfaction that come from making every meal and snack the best choice for your lifestyle.