Try One of Vicki’s Winning Weight-Loss Strategies

1. How to get into the exercising mood.“Get into your gym clothes anyway. This tells you, 'You’re dressed! You have to go exercise!'"

2. Best time to work out. “I go first thing in the morning, before other things come up and I end up not working out.”

3. Favorite weight-loss drink. “Green tea! The hot liquid fills me up, and knowing that it has all these great antioxidants keeps me in the mind-set of being good to my body.”

4. How to stay motivated when the scale won’t budge. “I look up the calorie count of every bite — and sip — I take. I found out that the large sweetened iced latte I bought every day was about 600 calories. Now I make my own low-cal version at home by mixing refrigerated leftover coffee with ice cubes, 2 percent milk and Splenda. I save money and calories!”

5. Foods to quit. “I don’t follow any calorie counting when I’m exercising so often, but I do believe in a modified South Beach Diet. I quit eating all processed carbs — like crackers, desserts and white rice — and only eat ‘good’ carbs, such as sweet potatoes or whole-grain bread.”

6. Favorite meal. “After I work out, I make a big omelet with Egg Beaters, fresh spinach, mushrooms, onions and shredded Jack cheese.”

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