Well the holidays are over and now it's time to get serious. Now that the parties are behind us, many are looking for ways to lose weight and feel good, but not all of us want to do a complete turnaround.
So what is a person to do? Here are some tips to use with just a little discipline, so you can continue to live, work and be strong while getting fit all at the same time.
Healthy eating can be enjoyed, and one of the many benefits that is often overlooked is that healthy eating has a big impact on our mental well being. Try incorporating some of these tips now to ward off holiday weight gain and to help make reaching your goals little less stressful.
1. Eat more than salad and less bread. Bread may taste great, but can easily pack on the pounds if too much is eaten. Salad, on the other hand, can help speed metabolism and provide energy. Try to incorporate more salads into your daily meals and lighten up on bread and bread products.
One example to help you eat less bread is to swap your traditional sandwich for a wrap, which tend to be leaner with less sugar. Munch on fresh cut veggies and whole fruits throughout the day to keep metabolism up and begin each lunch and dinner with a fresh salad. This can help you feel full and may even help your body break down the coming meal much easier.
2. Avoid diet soda. Recent research shows that diet sodas are not helpful to any weight loss program. In fact, one study from The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio showed that dieters who drank diet soda on a regular basis had 70% larger waistlines than those who didn't. Another study showed diet sodas raised blood sugar in diabetes-prone mice.
3: When you are thirsty, have a detox drink instead. These can help you flush fat instead of packing weight on. Try water with fresh lemon juice squeezed into it. Drink herbal teas, including green tea to help relieve belly bloat. Add some fresh squeezed grapefruit juice to your water. This is one of the easiest and healthiest changes you can make.
4. Exercise just a little. If you are used to exercise, then keep at it. Strive for at least 30 minutes a day if you are trying to lose weight and if your health permits. If you are not used to exercise and you hate even the thought of it - start small.
For many, a mindset of exercising 10 minutes at first can help you ease into a program. If you are busy then 10 minutes is better than none. Some options to help you exercise include DVD's that boast 10 minute exercise routines for those short on time or just staing. Jogging, biking or walking are easy and inexpensive while rebounding can make exercise fun.
5. Have your treats and stay healthy, too. Practice making fun snacks that look amazing but have healthy ingredients. Take yourself out of the mindset that fun foods are junk foods by making raw food treats that swap fattening white sugar for nutritiously sweet dates.
Magazines are rife with healthy holiday treats every season like celery sticks or apple slices with almond butter. Collect magazines and online recipes and you might surprise yourself at how fun healthy holiday eating can be!
Bonus: And lastly if you do step out of your plan, don't beat yourself up; just enjoy the treat and get right back on track because it's what you eat most of the time that counts.