Success Tips

Below you will find many helpful tips which will help you succeed.

What if I’m not losing weight as quickly as I expected?

There are two things that will influence your weekly weight loss.  The first is water fluctuation and the second is how closely you stick to the diet.

Water Fluctuation
You will generally lose more weight in the first weeks of a diet because you lose water weight.  Because it’s natural for your body to lose water when you first begin to lose weight, it is very important that you drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.  In later weeks, some of that water weight loss may be regained showing little or no weight loss on the scale, even though you’ve lost body fat.  It is important to know that while the body can retain water for many different reasons, “water weight gain” is never permanent.

Sticking to the diet
If you stick faithfully to the diet, you can lose about 1 to 3 lbs. per week, depending on your weight and exercise level.  If your weight loss has slowed down, you are probably eating off the diet, even if it’s not obvious.  Just small amounts of high-calorie food can really add up.  Believe it or not, the best remedy for slow weight loss generally is to increase the number of shakes, entrees, fruits, and vegetables you are eating.  Remember, HMR foods along with fruits and vegetables have far fewer calories than other foods!  Eating more of these foods is the most effective way to keep the higher-calorie foods out of your diet and increase your weight loss.

What if I break the diet?

Don’t get discouraged!  One day is never enough to stop you from losing weight.  The most important thing to do when you break the diet is to respond with positive weight-loss behavior as soon as possible.

If you eat food that isn’t part of your diet, quickly make a shake, or eat a piece of fruit to get your diet back on track.  No matter what, still get all of your 3+2+5 for the day. 

Your goal is to avoid what happens to most people when they break a diet—after eating food that isn’t part of the diet, they decide the rest of the day doesn’t matter and eat more foods off the diet.  This can turn a day off into a week off.  Soon the weight loss stops and weight gain starts.

What if I don’t have a blender at home or at work?

Shakes made in the blender are the most filling.  It’s best to buy a blender if you don’t already have one.  (The blender doesn’t need to be expensive.)  You should also consider buying a blender to keep at work, which will provide you with a lot more flexibility.  If you are unable to have a blender at work, try:

• mixing your shakes in the blender at home and bringing them to work in a thermos.
• making HMR® 70 Plus puddings at work
• mixing your shakes with a hand shaker (or buy a bottle of water and use that as your shaker)

What if I don’t have access to a microwave at work?

No, problem!  HMR Entrees are already cooked, so they can be eaten at room temperature.  Just open the packet and enjoy, or pour over your big salad.  Or mix with fresh or canned vegetables.  Another option is to heat your entrée at home and bring it to work in a wide-mouthed thermos.

Can I eat a piece of chicken or fish and skip an entrée?

If you want to lose the most weight possible, the answer is no.  Here’s why: creating your own portion-controlled low-calorie meals isn’t as easy as it sounds.  If it were, more people would be doing it and losing weight.  HMR Entrees provide automatic portion control—no measuring, and no questions about whether the food will help you lose weight.

What’s more, if your start making up your own meals, your choices will expand day by day.  With more choices, the number of calories you take in will increase as well.  This will slow down your weight loss.  By making the commitment to eat at least two entrees and three shakes every day, you’ll have fewer decisions to make, your diet will remain structured, and you’ll lose weight every week.

How do I stay on the diet when I’m at a restaurant or social event?

Going to restaurants, parties, and social events can be one of the biggest challenges for a dieter.  The ideal strategy is to change your plans so that you aren’t exposed to a lot of tempting food.  The fewer restaurants or events you go to, the easier it will be to stay on the diet and lose more weight. 

However, changing plans is sometimes not possible.  If so, try some of these strategies?

Eat ahead of time:  That’s right!  Have an HMR Entree with vegetables and a shake before you go out.  You’ll be more full and less likely to eat off the diet.  Even small nibbles of typical foods in restaurants and social settings can add up very quickly and slow down your weight loss.

Pick a restaurant that provides plenty of vegetable side dishes to fill up your plate.  Also, many restaurants will prepare your meal without adding or butter.  Call ahead to make sure.  This can save you hundreds and hundreds of calories.

Bring food with you.  At a restaurant, bring an entrée and just order sides of vegetables.  Many restaurants will be happy to heat up your entrée for you.  At a social gathering in someone’s home, bring a vegetable platter with low-fat dip or a bowl of fruit salad.  You can also bring a packet of HMR 70 Plus and make yourself a pudding for dessert.

Make sure you have your daily 3+2+5 no matter what happens.  By getting in all your shakes, entrée, fruits, and vegetables—even if you eat off your diet—you’ll consume fewer calories and maintain your momentum for the next day.

How do I stay on the diet when I have to travel?

Much like going to restaurants, this takes preparations and planning.  If your travel schedule can’t be rearranged, here are the top strategies for dieting when on the road.

Bring your food with you.  If your shakes, entrees, fruits, and vegetables aren’t with you, you can’t eat them!  Even if you have to pack an extra carry-on bag, this simple step can keep you losing weight while you travel.

Eat your weight-loss foods frequently.  While you’re traveling, you’re likely to be bombarded by different opportunities to break your diet—from the airports to the local restaurants.  Eating HMR foods often will help you avoid other foods.  Try making puddings and add fruit for snacks or meals.  Also, ask about the availability of a blender and microwave wherever you go: hotels, restaurants, etc.

Plan your dining out.  Follow the tips in the previous question.

Keep your records up.  Record-keeping is a very effective way to stay connected to your diet.  Every time you have a shake, entrée, vegetable, or fruit, write it down.  You’ll see your positive behavior build, which will provide the resolve you need to stay on the diet.

Can I drink alcohol on the diet?

When trying to lose weight, it’s important to avoid fluids that have calories, and alcohol has a lot of calories.  Even just one drink a day can slow down your weight loss.

What if I become pregnant?

If you become pregnant, discontinue the diet right away.  Pregnant mothers should not be on a calorie-restricted diet.  See your healthcare provider for guidance on diet and nutrition.

What if I don’t feel well?

The most common side effect people report on the Healthy Solutions® diet is feeling great and having more energy.  In fact, this is probably the healthiest diet you’ll ever be on!  If you are ill or don’t feel well, see your doctor. Unless your doctor says otherwise, you should be able to continue on the diet.  If you have headaches or feel dizzy, it is likely that you are not drinking enough water.  It’s important to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water or other noncaloric fluids every day, in addition to your shakes, to stay properly hydrated.