Flip on the television and you're sure to see and hear the unmistakable signs of the holidays coming right around the corner. The food, the traditions, the food, the music, the parties, the shopping, and oh, don't forget the food! Right alongside those commercials for the perfect gift and crescent rolls are ads designed to make you think ahead to January and losing the average seven pounds that the typical American puts on during the holidays.
It's the perfect time to consider your health plans for 2012, but why wait until the New Year to put them into effect? Let the weight loss commericals be an inspiration for you to design a plan that will take you through the holidays feeling great and into 2012 without added pounds. Consider these lessons from commercial weight loss programs:
1. Portion Control. Packaged weight loss programs often feature the wide variety of foods - from pizza to cheeseburgers and even dessert - that can be eaten while still losing weight. The same is true in any balanced weight management program. Moderation is key to incorporating just about any kind of food into a healthy lifestyle, albeit with much smaller portions and with healthy substitutions. At-home tip: before you indulge this holiday season, choose wisely and select only your very favorite foods and then cut your usual portion in half!
2. Convenience. Commercial programs offer frozen, prepackaged meals to make it easy for anyone to bring their healthy lifestyle along with them to work and to stick to the plan even on busy evenings filled with obligations. At-home tip: prepare meals and snacks in advance. Snack-size zipper bags are easy transport for a handful of almonds, and a small plastic container is perfect for sliced fresh fruit. Even just a few minutes spent preparing breakfast the evening before can make all the difference in staying on track the next day.
3. Eat Frequently. Popular weight loss programs promise that you can eat all day and never get hungry, all the while losing weight. It's true: eating a balanced meal or snack every few hours keeps your metabolism humming and prevents the kind of ravenous hunger that can lead to a cookie binge. At-home tip: eat about 300 calories containing protein, carbohydrates, and fat every three to four hours to keep hunger at bay and avoid feeling deprived during the holidays.
January doesn't have to be the start of diet season! Incorporate these tips into your daily life now so by the time the diet commercials kick into high gear, you are well on your way to making 2012 your healthiest year yet!
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