You can wake up thinner, happier and more energized than you are right now on New Year’s Day.  All you need to do is incorporate these simple and easy tips into your daily routine. 

Tip #1.  Cook ‘em Up Righteous. You do not have to make each and every dish as fattening as possible.   Butter does not equal love.   I promise you that a baked sweet potato is far better than any casserole that has melted marshmallows a top!

Tip #2.  Get Your Impulses In Check. Make a list and check it twice.  Take off anything that’s naughty and not nice!  And then … stick to it!  The supermarket displays are strategically placed so that you buy whatever item is on them on ‘impulse.  (Yes, that’s called impulse shopping.)  Don’t do it!  You’re stronger than that.  You’re better than that! Keep on walking.

Tip #3.   Sliders Stick. Don’t be duped into thinking that a slider is so small that it doesn’t count.  Most are a minimum of 100 calories per slide.  If you slide enough, you will have effectively slipped off the wagon with a loud thud!

Tip #4.  Breathe. Before you reach for that deep-fried whatever, take in one deep belly breath.  Deep breathing will disconnect you from the impulse to eat and connect you to your body.

Then …

Tip #5.  Ask Your Body. Ask your body, “Body, what do you have to say about this?”  Chances are your body will be in shock for a few seconds.  After all, when’s the last time you considered what your body might be feeling while you were stuffing it?

Tip #6.  Walk It Off. It’s okay for you to leave the party, the office, your home for 5, 10 or 20 minutes (or more!).  Not only will you burning off that extra olive in your martini, but walking is a fabulous way to de-stress.

Tip #7.  Never Ever Go to a Party Hungry. People ‘think’ that they are saving calories by not eating all day.  “I’m saving calories for the party,” they tell me.  “Bologna,” I say!  It just doesn’t work, does it?  You will more than likely eat at least twice or maybe even three times the amount!

Tip #8.  Money, Money, Money. Don’t get caught up in a buying frenzy or trying to keep up with the Jones!  Do the grab bag thing.  Make gifts.   How many sweaters do we need?

Tip #9.  Sleep Baby Sleep.  I’m telling you that sleep deprivation is a game breaker.  It will set you off balance in a multitude of ways.  Aside from being a grouch (and who wants to deal with a grouch during the holidays), lack of sleep can lead to weight gain because it causes your body to increase its levels of the appetite-stimulating hormone called ghrelin, while it decreases the level of leptin, a hormone that helps to make you feel sated.

Tip #10.  Make Your Home a Safe Haven. If I had a dime for every time I’ve said this, I’d be rich.  Listen up, people.  If your home does not support your goals; if it is overflowing with your red light foods, you will use up all your energy saying ‘no, thank you’ at home.  You’ll never make it past the buffet. Your home should be your oasis away from the world.  Not a place where there is any kind of fighting going on.  No internal fight; no external fight.

Tip #11.  Step Away from the Buffet Table. Speaking of the buffet table … if you’ve parked your tush near the buffet table, I can only ask, “what kind of masochist are you?”  Move away from the food!

Tip #12.  Plain and Simple. Stay away from any and all holiday-themed foods and drinks.  A 20-ounce peppermint mocha with whipped cream weighs in at 480 calories; a mocha spice latte at 450 calories.  A glass of eggnog (spiked) is 370 calories.

Tip #13.  Chew Gum. I don’t know about you, but I find it near impossible not to eat while I’m cooking.  You could chew sugar-free gum, while cooking, or for a more extreme approach, try electrician’s tape.  (Oh, I am only kidding … or am I?  Check out my Dysfunctional Chef video!).

Tip #14.  Ban Elastic Waist Pants. You don’t want to leave room for expansion, do you?  Wear form fitting pants.

Tip #15.  Listen to Music. Music activates the same feel good center of your brain that food does.  Tune in, listen up and lighten up!

Tip #16.  Stand on the Sunny Side of the Street. Get at least 20 minutes of sunlight.  Even if you have to sit on the windowsill, do it, because the light helps your brain to produce serotonin, a mood booster.  And, dig this! Apparently serotonin also helps us feel full or sated.

Tip #17.  Have Fun! Let’s not forget, ‘tis the season to be jolly!

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice

www.the21DayCure.com
www.OurLadyofWeightLoss.com

PHOTO (cc): Flickr / timitalia