Slimming Down Before Christmas at He's Fit

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Slimming Down Before Christmas

Posted November 23, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Lisa Cieplechowicz

Section: His Fitness, Cardio Training, His Health, Mental Health, Physical Health, Lifestyle Health, His Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Diets

man jogger The holiday season is officially upon us. For the next month, we will all be occupied with hours of shopping, decorating, and eating all sorts of deliciously fattening foods. Not surprisingly, this is also the time where weight gain seems unavoidable. It all starts with Thanksgiving. With platters of turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pumpkin pie tempting our taste buds it’s no wonder that extra pounds tend to pack on this time of year. But for those of you who are determined to slim down in time for Christmas, you’re in luck. With a few simple steps, your healthy physique will be the talk of all the holiday parties.

Prepare yourself - Every weight loss regime should include some sort of mental preparation. Focus on specific aims (i.e. 5 pounds in 5 weeks) to help keep on track, and force yourself to accept the lifestyle changes that will be required of you over the next few weeks. Once you’re in the right mindset, you’ll free yourself from many of the frustrations and annoyances that can often accompany a weight loss program.
Start writing - Diaries are no longer just for teenage girls with high school crushes. Keeping a food diary is a step recommended by many health professionals as a productive way to understand the relationship between yourself and food. Keep track of your eating patterns - what you eat and when. This will help keep you focused and disciplined while you try to achieve your weight loss goals.
Makeover your diet - Water, fruit, and fish are your new best friends so learn to love them. Also stock up on healthy frozen meals (i.e. Lean Cuisine Pizza) that will help keep you from binging on fatty orders from the local takeout.
Snack Away - Recent research suggests that snacking more actually contributes to weight loss because you take in less calories this way. Fresh fruit, granola, vegetables, and lowfat cheese or peanut butter are all healthy snacking options that will help keep you full while you lose that extra weight.
Get Moving - No surprise here. It takes regular exercise to help melt those excess pounds away. Fit in daily workouts that keep your heart pumping and those calories burning. Even something as simple as walking can do wonders for your body. MSN Health recommends continually switching up your walking speed to help keep your workout both interesting and challenging. This works for all types of exercise in general. By fluctuating between different intensities, your body is sure to get the best workout possible.

So don’t let the holiday season get you down. Enjoy the food, fun, and festivities that accompany this time of year. Because by using these steps to create an organized and realistic weight loss regime, your body and health will be back in tip-top condition before you know it.

For more advice and guidelines on losing weight during the holiday season, click on any of the links below.

Research sources and for more information: [New York Times], [MSN Health], [FindArticles.com], [About.com]; [picture]