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The Power of Thinking Small

Since half the purpose of this blog is to help you save money, you should get into the habit of thinking small. What I mean by this is you should learn to think like a smaller person by eating less and max out your savings by spending less on smaller portions. In your mind, you should already be visualizing and thinking about yourself at your target weight. A svelte guy like you doesn't need to eat that much food!

We've already had a discussion on beer, but it is really something that you should get used to limiting to special occasions and in limited quantities. It's just too calorie rich and unfilling to fit it into your daily budget, but if you can make one or two work here and there, more power to you. Obviously, you'll have room for a little more in your calorie budget once you reach and are maintaining your target weight. This goes for any alcoholic drinks.

Where I'm going with this is that I'd recommend shrinking your dining-out bill by eliminating alcohol from your tab, like I have. If you're going to enjoy a drink here and there, try to do it socially at someone's house where you're not paying $5-$10 per drink or more. If anyone asks, you can save face by saying you're on a diet - it looks a lot better than telling them you're on a diet AND a cheapskate. After you leave the restaurant, think about how you just paid yourself $10-$20 lose weight. You'll have also eliminated a key reason to pay for a cab or an Uber instead of driving - even more savings. Well done, my man.

Also, if you're going to eat out, try looking at some of the cheaper menu items. It's not always the case, but a lot of the time they tend to be lower calorie because the portions are smaller. Maybe look at ordering a small appetizer or two or something off the dollar menu at your favorite fast food restaurant. If you're still hungry, you can supplement it with something later. You're much more likely to overeat if you're served a large dish that cost a lot of money.

Also, if you spend a lot of time driving or traveling, buy - or ideally make - some healthy snacks that you keep with you so you're not tempted to pull over and buy more expensive food on the go. I usually keep a small 180-200 calorie bag of almonds or walnuts with me, just in case. This way it'll help hold down your hunger and keep you from overeating later.

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