Healthy Weight Loss Tips - In Time For Christmas

How much weight did you put on from the Thanksgiving dinner? How much more have you gained from eating the left overs? Soon after the Thanksgiving feast come all the Christmas parties and year end parties. You know those parties where everyone is dressed to kill and you get to wear fabulous party dresses... only that, they may no longer fit. Whoever planned the holiday calendar must have had a sadistic streak. First, have a feast where you end up pigging out. Then, with all those extra pounds, squeeze into your party dresses for one party after another. Maybe in those days, fat was considered beautiful. Would you fit into your party dresses? Will your belly bulge be more prominent. Tune in to.. whatever. There is still time to lose weight in time for Christmas parties. How much you lose depends really on how motivated you are to lose weight. You must want to do it for yourself, not for someone else. It involves lots of discipline as you have to stick to an exercise schedule and watch what and how much you eat. Sure, there are quick fixes like pills and surgery, but the old fashion way, through diet and exercise is the healthiest way to go. There is no need to starve yourself to get into that dress. Okay, your stomach may growl if you cut down your food intake, but there is no need to eat until like 100% full. Do like the French women. Eat until you are 80% full, then stop. Control your food portion. Substitute junk food with healthy, yet tasty alte atives. Grill your food instead of deep frying. Eat fruit instead of candy. Frozen milk or yogurt instead of ice cream. A small scoop of vanilla ice cream is an okay treat a few times a week but hold the hot fudge, peanuts and other trimmings. Dress it with fresh fruit instead. Remove the skin from the chicken before you eat it and eat chicken breast meat, or better yet, turkey breast. Eat lots of white fish. Skip soft drinks or sweetened drinks in favour of water. Get a calorie counter and a food diary. Record everything you eat and compute how many calories you consume each day. Make it a point to reduce the calories every way you can through food subsitutions and by watching your portion size. When you party, go for sushi. Avoid the creamy ones though. Drink water instead of punch. Limit alcohol to a glass of the best wine you can get or a glass of the best champagne as alcohol is very high in calories. Besides reducing your calorie intake, set aside 45 minutes everyday to exercise. Go for a jog. Climb the stairs. Hit the gym Stick to this everyday and you should get in shape in time for Christmasn