We all dread the festive season when we’re losing weight! A healthy weight loss plan seems to go out the window when we get involved in all of the celebrations. But don’t feel like you need to hide in a corner to avoid temptations!

Here are Betty’s tips, to help you keep the weight off over Christmas.

• Look forward to healthy Christmas foods. Summer berries, cherries, turkey, baked veges and even Betty’s Recipe – Almond & Paw Paw Biscotti, are all healthy food options!
• Go shopping! Walking around in a large shopping center makes for great activity and great fun. Why not mix a fun activity with your weight loss!
• Throw your own Christmas Party. As host or hostess, you’ll certainly be getting in more than your share of activity for the day or night. And you get to chose what you eat! Make a simple hummus or blend a tin of tuna or salmon with low-fat ricotta, lemon juice and black pepper. Natural yoghurt works well when mixed with fresh garden herbs. Use vegetable sticks (carrot, celery, capsicum) instead of bread and crackers.
• Serve a small portion and make it last just as long as everyone else’s. Eat slowly and savour every mouthful. When you’re finished, focus on the atmosphere, the company, the meaning of Christmas and the gifts!
• Don’t eat everything on offer – no matter what it is, it’s available all year round. You can have some when you REALLY want it.
• Stand under the mistletoe – not near the nibblies.
• If you overeat, consider it just a lapse. Get back to your routine at your next meal. If you tell yourself you’ve failed, you can guarantee that you will!
• Make exercise part of your Christmas Day. Make exercise fun for everybody with backyard cricket, soccer and basketball. Or take the party out for a walk! These are a great ways to burn off your lunch.
• All in all, take it slowly, notice every moment, relax and enjoy! After all, Christmas should be about spending time with your family and being thank-full for what you have, not about counting calories!

Congratulations to everyone who has achieved their weight loss goals in 2009. This is the best Christmas present you can give yourself. Just don’t take it all away in the Christmas celebrations! Remember how much work you put into achieving your new body. And for those that are still going… keep your mind on achieving your goals in 2010.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the team at Betty Baxter!

This entry was posted on Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 3:16 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.