The EASY & REALISTIC Way to Shed Holiday Pounds

Mouth-watering turkeys, succulent hams, yummy side dishes and decadent desserts...Did you overeat just a tad? Overindulge? STUFF YOURSELF SILLY???

GOOD!!! You did the right thing! That is what the holidays are all about. Life is too short for deprivation. Satisfying your taste buds with tantalizing treats is okay- really. As long as you don't do it all the time, of course. It's normal to overindulge during the holidays, so don't feel too bad about it because millions of others are in the same boat as you are.

So, if you have gained 5, 7, 10 pounds, follow these tips and you will be back in your skinny jeans soon enough. I do not believe in crash diets or quick weight loss schemes- they don't work. To me, it is all about your attitude and your lifestyle. If you have not read my hub on How Europeans Stay Thin please do so (it is my most popular hub by far!!!). Here is the link: http://hubpages.com/hub/How-Europeans-Stay-Thin

7 EASY WAYS TO SHED THOSE HOLIDAY POUNDS!!!

1. Do not panic. Yes, your tummy is bloated and you cannot button your pants- it's okay. I also overindulged these last few weeks and my belly is bloated, too. I intend to follow these tips to lose my excess weight, so you are not alone in your endeavor. The first step to successful weight loss is to respect your body. Love yourself. Here is what I say to my husband, "Oh look honey, there are five more pounds of me for you to love" (adding a big smile with batting eyelashes is optional).

2. Start drinking water. LOTS of water. Not only does this help you shed excess weight naturally, it is also good for flushing toxins out of your system (not to mention helping out your kidneys and liver after drinking all that extra wine and champagne). The intake of all this water will also help you feel full, so you eat less. Oh, and keep alcohol to a minimum. It's fine to enjoy a modest glass of wine with your meal, but avoid sweet cocktails and hard liquor. Also, NO SOFT DRINKS!

3. Eat all your sweets and carbs in the morning (sweets as in FRUITS and carbs as in MULTI GRAINS). I eat a variety of fruit for breakfast, followed by either multigrain bread or cereal, and yogurt. You will satisfy your sweet tooth with the fructose and the carbs will be burned throughout the day. Some of these quick diets discourage carbohydrates, but your body really does need them. As long as you eat the right carbs early in the day, it's okay. Don't deprive yourself. Oh, and NEVER skip breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day!

4. Have a nice, big lunch. A generous salad, several cooked vegetables, and some protein is perfect. Be creative so that meals do not become monotonous. There are so many vegetables to choose from and they don't just have to be steamed- they can be grilled, roasted, sauteéd, stewed, baked, or even raw. Season dishes liberally with herbs, spices, pepper, and olive oil (not butter). Eat as much as you like of the salad and veggies, be more modest with the meat, and SKIP the bread and dessert. By eating a big lunch, you will feel full and satisfied throughout the day and will avoid overeating at dinner. For those of you who love pasta and cannot give it up no matter how hard you try, lunch is the time to eat it, not dinner. Try to keep pasta at a minimum (and opt for rice / risotto sometimes).

5. Dinner should be early with the same kinds of foods you had for lunch, but in smaller portions. Avoid carbs at night. By eating less and doing so early in the evening, you should burn off the food before bedtime. Eating late and going to sleep is a great way to gain weight, not to mention giving yourself heartburn or acid reflux.

6. What about exercise? Joining a gym? Sure, that always helps, but I intend to walk it all off (I hate the gym and prefer the park because I love Nature). A brisk, 30-45 minute walk daily or every other day, accompanied by regular stretches and some abdominal crunches will do the trick. I work out my abs a few times a week (when I feel like it) and try to stretch often. When I remember to pick up my dumbells, I do some arm curls. The trick is to pick a routine that works for YOU and make it a natural part of your life. Trying to adopt the routines of others and not enjoying yourself is a waste of time. I have been doing my routine for YEARS, not just for short spurts of time when I want to lose weight. The result? You stay in shape naturally, without even thinking about it.

7. BE PATIENT. This is the toughest part for me because I'm not a very patient person, I'm a perfectionist, and I tend to be hard on myself. It's not easy to love yourself just the way you are- especially with the media constantly bombarding everyone with perfect, young bodies! Here is what I tell myself all the time, "As long as I am healthy, that is the most important thing of all." And it's true. Without good health, one cannot enjoy life. When you think about it on those terms, 5 or 10 extra pounds is really no big deal. Seriously.

Losing weight the natural, healthy way is NOT quick, but the results last longer. Remember, it is not a diet, it is a lifestyle. Try out my tips and let me know if they work. They are easy enough to be worth a try, right? You have nothing to lose except a few pounds. Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a very happy and healthy New Year!!!

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xoxo, C