The holidays are the most festive time of the year but they can also be highly stressful if you are watching your diet or trying to lose weight. How can we avoid gaining extra fat while still experiencing a great time this season? You can enjoy the celebration to its fullest and not worry about guilt on Monday if you follow just a few simple ideas.


Don't wait until the big meal to eat. It's understandable to save room for your favorite holiday dishes but starving yourself until the big feast is the last thing that you want to do.

You should enjoy eating sensible snacks to maintain your metabolism. Also, not being famished lowers the chances of your going overboard. It is best to avoid eating too much when dinner is finally served.


Try leaning toward grains and high fiber carbohydrates such as brown rice, wheat breads and wheat flour pasta. Fiber rich foods tend to give most people a full feeling earlier than the same or larger quantity of white flour alternatives. Consider higher protein cottage cheese over sour cream for your potato. No, you don't have to live without the butter but it may benefit your waste line if you do.


Drink plenty of water. It is always important to stay well hydrated. But, when celebrating especially, water replenishes and counters the dehydrating effects of the caffeinated or adult beverages we may have enjoyed. Drinking enough water also can help us to not stuff ourselves with high calorie foods.


Casseroles are always welcomed in my home but steamed vegetables are a nutritious alternative. Use herbs to bring out the natural flavors. You may also consider nuts like vitamin rich Pistachios or raw fruits and vegetables with low fat dips as appetizers over the heavier or higher calorie items better reserved for the main event.

Treat yourself to whatever your heart desires, even desserts and chocolates if you wish. However, do it in moderation. Try sampling in smaller portions so there isn't anything you missed but be sensible on serving size. When you pay attention to the quantity of what you are eating, it increases the quality of these special times.


If the weather is appropriate, enjoy a walk outside with your friends and family. Still truly important is that you have enough physical activity but days like these were meant for leisure. Take the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air before dining or after your post feast nap. Doing so will help you be certain to burn at least a few of those extra calories.

Food doesn't need to be the only focus of your celebration's fun time. Since the group is together, why not exercise each other's mind with the board games hid away in your closet? Children and kids at heart may already be playing video games but when was the last time you enjoyed a good trivia or word game? Some of the most memorable family or friendship bonds can be made over a triple letter score.


Speaking of kids, it's important for us adults to set a good example. Food is crucial for us to live and should never be something to feel guilty over. Encourage children to enjoy the holiday with healthy treats, physical activity, and good feelings about food. What we discover and experience as children during these social occasions can often last as wonderful memories throughout our entire lifetime.


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For more good sense diet tips and to discover Cindy Lewis' easy weight loss secrets, visit her website at http://www.easyweightlosssecrets.com and register for her free online diet class.

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Is it possible to avoid those holiday pounds?

We all know that maintaining your diet and weight loss plan during the holidays can more than a little difficult. In fact, maintaining your ideal weight during the holiday season can seem almost impossible. Fortunately, if you believe the old stories about how much weight people put on during the holidays, you're only partially correct. In a recent study conducted by The National Institute of Health, the researchers discovered that, in reality, most people tend to put on just under one pound. However, a person who is already overweight will average a whole five pounds extra during the holiday season.

Unfortunately, the study also shows that people tend to keep those holiday pounds on. In other words, over ten years, those "not-so-much pounds", could lead someone to being overweight.

So, what can we do in order to keep those extra pounds off? How do we lose weight put on during the holidays? After all, our homes are usually filled with holiday pies, cakes and other goodies, and they can be pretty tempting even for the most faithful of dieters!



Here's a few tips to get you through the holidays.


Just a Nibble!

Have you ever noticed that when you start eating a rich dessert it tastes so good, but by the last bite, you've had enough? One way to keep the pounds down is just to enjoy a few bites of that delicious cheesecake or chocolate fudge brownie. No one says that you have to completely deprive yourself of holiday treats just limit how much you eat!


Enjoy the Company, Not The Brownies!

Many people think of holiday parties in terms of the foods that they'll get to eat (or have to avoid) instead of the real reason for the celebration the company and conversation. If you keep yourself busy chatting with friends, you'll be less likely to invade the snack table.


Go Full

You've likely heard the grocery store trick; don't go shopping when you're hungry because you'll only end up buying more. Well, the same can work for holiday parties! Eat a lot of raw vegetables, and other healthy foods that will stick with you during the party and you'll be less tempted to binge on the bad stuff.


Drink Water

If you were to add up the calories that you've probably consumed in sodas, fruit punches and alcoholic beverages at parties, you would likely be amazed. You can gulp down hundreds of calories without even realizing it if you're not careful! Instead of one of these high-calorie drinks, make it a habit to drink water which in itself will help flush out extra water weight.


Create an Eating Schedule

It wouldn't be fun or realistic to try and get through an entire party without at least sampling some of the treats. But instead of heading instantly to the food table and loading your plate and then suffering the rest of the party because you want more try spacing out your snacks for the entire party. Plan on taking a nibble of something about every thirty minutes. Not only will it help you eat less, it will be a fun game that you can play with yourself!

Most importantly, remember that the holidays are meant for enjoyment. Don't be too hard on yourself, and if you make a mistake, talk an extra long walk to work off those extra calories instead of beating yourself up over it!


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Adam Waxler publishes the Weight-Loss-Power-Package...a collection of six weight loss ebooks guaranteed to help you lose weight. Check out the complete package here: http://www.weight-loss-power-package.com and check out his blog for free weight loss tips here: http://www.weight-loss-machine.com/blog

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So, how much do you weigh? Think about that right now. Now, think about this, how much would you like to weigh? Now that you have thought about those two different numbers, ask yourself this: What am I going to do to achieve that weight goal? Maybe you are one of the many people that have tried a lot of things to no avail. For example, maybe you have tried diet pills. Whatever you have tried, nothing will work unless it's natural. What I mean by that is that you should not expect something like a diet pill to solve your problem. You should try to solve your problem naturally. If you want to know how to solve your problem naturally, read the next paragraph.

First of all, you would have to eat the right foods and get enough water everyday. The biggest cause of obesity is bad food choices. People who eat bad foods tend to get overweight. So, eating the right foods will help you lose weight. If you have anything in your house that is unhealthy, you should throw it AWAY! That's right; throw away all the food items in your house that are unhealthy. Next, you will have to start drinking more water. Water clears out the body of excess waste and will help you get a faster metabolism. The second vital thing you must do is exercise. If you want ideas on what physical exercises you can do, follow on to the next paragraph.

If you like to sit at home all day, watching TV or using the computer, you will get out of shape. You should exercise regularly for health purposes. Don't just sit at home all day. You should go outside and play. If you don't have anything like baseball or football to play, you can walk around the neighborhood. When I am walking around in my neighborhood, I see people riding bicycles. That's a good idea as well; you can do that. You can also jog around the block once you have the hang of it. As long as you want to achieve your weight-loss goal, you should keep exercising and never be inactive.

Would you like to see the sexy body that lies under your fat? Well, what are you waiting for? You should start eating right and exercising.



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If you are no longer comfortable for yourself because of a flabby belly, you may want to try the "flat abs diet." Sometimes just doing sit-ups and crunches are simply not enough to help you achieve a flat belly. Exercise combined with this diet will get better results for you.

Recent research has suggested that not only how much and what you eat, but also your exercise program and reducing stress are necessary to a successful weight loss program. A "flat abs diet" can also be a valuable tool in losing weight and obtaining that flat abdomen that you desire.


#1 Reduce your carbohydrate intake:

It is necessary for you to eat less carbohydrate if you want to use the flat abs diet to lose weight. When carbohydrates digest they turn into simple sugar and produce energy. But, if you eat too many carbohydrates, your body turns it into fat. The problem with reduced fat foods is that they put more sugar in them so they will have a good flavor. So, you have to decrease the portions of bread, tortillas, chips, potatoes, spaghetti and rice you eat. Also you have to cut down on beverages that contain too much sugar such as lemonades and juices.


#2 Eat more Protein:

A person loses weight and fat along with muscles, which may cause you to look equally flabby before and after your weight loss. However, scientists have discovered that eating the right amount of protein at the right time of the day can not only optimize your weight loss but also prevent major muscle loss, which is important for both men and women. Through the flat abs diet, you keep the fat down and maintain muscle stores which are very important to keep the basal metabolic rate high and to maintain a healthy weight.

To keep bones and muscles healthy and to get fitter, flatter abs, you should consume more proteins but not in astronomical proportions. Consumption should not exceed 40% of daily calories.´


#3 Eat more fiber rich food:

According to David Jenkins, M.D., Ph.D., professor of nutrition and medicine, University of Toronto and an associate of Food and Nutrition Board, an important reason for people to become fatter and chubbier is inadequate intake of fiber. In order to drain off the flab and to have firm, attractive abdominal muscles, you will have to ingest not less than 25 grams of fiber/day, if you are a woman and 38 grams of fiber/day, if you are a male. Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables, groceries and peas that resists digestion. It helps provide you a flat stomach in different ways.

Inadequate intake of fiber may result in constipation that can cause your belly bulge and increase weight by 5 pounds. Moreover, fiber rich foods like fruits, vegetables and oatmeal increase the size of your diet without increasing the calorie content. They hold you satiated for a longer time and help you shred weight. We may now discuss one of the simplest steps to gain flat stomach so as to find success with your diet regimen.


#4 Drink a lot of Water:

Water makes up more than 60% of your body weight. Drinking water helps to flush out toxins from the body that are burnt by exercise and diet. By this one loses weight, feels healthier and energized.

Also, by drinking more water one does not feel very hungry as water fills the stomach and thus food consumption is lesser which in turn reduces the calorie intake and eventually supports flat abs diet.



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The face is one of the many areas to where fat accumulates during weight gain. Chubby cheeks and double chins are usually the common complains of people suffering from facial fat. To slim the face, you'll need to either perform facial exercises or modify your diet to decrease your overall body weight. Let's look at some ways to lose cheek fat with proper diet and exercise.

1. For cheeks: Sit. Relax. Smile, keeping your lips closed. Now suck in your cheeks and hold them in while you count 8 seconds. Relax and repeat at least ten times. This is a good one to do while driving, as it requires no hands to perform. Another exercise for your cheeks is simply to smile as wide as you can (lips closed) as you imagine you are trying to touch your ears with the corners of your mouth.

2. Reduce your intake of alcohol and go for drinking milk instead. Alcohol is known to put on calories on your body, while drinking 1200 milligrams of milk everyday is known to help reduce fat. So make the right choice for a slimmer you.

3. Address your diet first. A well-balanced and nutritional diet filled with healthy foods such as whole grains, lean proteins like fish and chicken and plenty of healthy fruits and vegetables will help you lose weight. Starving yourself isn't the answer to losing cheek fat. A balanced approach should restrict sugar intake and replace unhealthy foods with high quality, healthy foods.

4. Tilt your head back, while in this position proceed to make a chewing motion. Chew for about ten seconds then relax and repeat this maneuver ten times. If done correctly, you should feel your jaw and neck muscles tightening after the exercise.

5. Drinking eight big glasses of water a day has been proven to aid in weight loss. Sometimes when we think we're hungry, our body is actually just thirsty. Drinking lots of water can take the edge off our "hunger" and keep us from overeating, thus helping us to lose fat. This is one of the best natural weight loss.

6. Watch your salt intake. Salt is an active ingredient that causes bloating or water retention. Avoid salty foods and eat healthy ones instead. If you need to add salt on your recipe, do it with a salt shaker or sprinkle it with your hand instead of a spoon. This way you can control the amount of salt on your food.

7. Perform regular aerobic exercise to boost your metabolism and help you lose weight. Regular exercise needs to be part of your daily or weekly health regimen. Make exercise a part of your lifestyle to maintain a healthy weight. Many people notice weight gain first in the facial area. You'll notice weight loss quickly on the face too.

8. Perform an exaggerated smile in front of the mirror. Close your lips and smile as wide as you can, as if you are trying to touch both your ears with the corners of your mouth. Hold this position for 8 to 10 seconds and relax. Repeat this procedure five times.

Author is an online researcher on natural weight loss. Nutritionist. Click read more on natural weight loss, how to lose cheek fat.

Weight gain with pregnancy is standard... but putting on extra amounts of unwanted baby weight is not. Even the best pregnancy diet won't take the place of proper fitness, and staying in shape while carrying your baby will help both of you in the delivery room. This pregnancy safe exercise list will help you keep on track, and you can even use these tips for losing weight after childbirth.

The first thing you'll need to do is monitor your pregnancy weight gain by week. This is the best indication of whether you're in line with proper maternity nutrition or whether you've fallen off the wagon a little. It also keeps you honest, and gives you something be be accountable for each week. Make sure you do it.

Beyond that, get the best pregnancy nutrition information you can find. Seek it out and follow it: as a mother-to-be you may have to increase your calorie intake but that doesn't give you a license to eat anything you see. Normal weight gain during pregnancy involves eating a properly balanced diet of proteins, carbohydrates, and good fats - do this right and it will help your body stay in shape and assist in the best possible fetal development. Overindulge in the wrong things, and you'll be stuck with rolls of unwanted baby weight. Try to remember that weight loss after childbirth is a lot more difficult than it was before you were pregnant. Your body shape, type, and metabolism might change... but even if it doesn't, you're now in charge of a needy little baby and won't nearly have the free time you had before.

Exercises while pregnant are not all that different than pre-maternity fitness. The main thing to keep in mind is that you should always stop if you feel dizzy, lightheaded, short of breath, or experience any type of pain. You can get a pretty great workout without any of those things, and working up a sweat is a good thing. Just watch your limits, and don't overexert yourself - especially in the third trimester. Below is a list of pregnancy safe exercise you should consider:

* Stretching - No matter which exercises you select, you must always stretch. Sometimes stretching could be considered exercise in and of itself. Make sure you stretch your neck by dropping the chin and slowly rotating your head both clockwise and counterclockwise. Don't rush it - concentrate on feeling the muscles pull and try to go a little further each time. Stretch your shoulders by rolling them forward and upward toward your ears, then downward and back. Rotate each your arms at the sockets, both forward and backward. Flex and stretch your legs, and rotate your ankles and wrists. If done correctly stretching should take 10-15 minutes on its own.

* Pilates - If you've never tried Pilates, I'd highly recommend you take a beginner's class while pregnant. The flexibility and exercise benefits are great, but Pilates will also teach you important breathing techniques that you'll find extremely useful during labor, childbirth, and beyond.

* Swimming - Many pregnant women take up swimming. Why? Mainly because of it's a totally non-impact style of workout. Swimming exercises the entire body at once, is great cardio, and helps oxygenate and stretch the muscles. It's also a ton of fun. Check your local pool for a water aerobics class; you'll be inspired to go each day and you'll make some friends in the process.

* Walking - One of the best ways to get out of the house! Pregnancy can really coop you up, so get out and walk around. Not only do you get new scenery and fresh air, it's also great for your body. Start off with small walks to see how you feel before going on longer ones. And make sure you've got comfortable sneakers. Pregnancy posture is important in helping keep your back pain-free, to say nothing of blistered feet.

* Running - If you're a runner, you can still run. This is especially good news, because many people who've taken up running are usually addicted to it in one way or another. Be very aware of how you feel while running, and never let yourself become exhausted or gasping for breath. In your third trimester, be mindful of how you feel and consult your doctor - he or she you may want to slow down or switch to walking.

* Yoga - Similar to Pilates, Yoga can help with stretching and breathing. It can also teach you mental techniques vital to putting yourself in a good frame of mind. Being calm, peaceful, and relaxed are all healthy benefits to you and your baby. But in Yoga there may be certain exercise positions you should avoid while pregnant, so as with Pilates always consult an instructor first.

Pregnancy Without Pounds is a fantastic online guide that offers even more exercise tips and nutritional information. The techniques found within will help keep you looking amazing the whole time while pregnant and even after delivery. You'll be given pregnancy weight gain by week information and dietary facts on which foods you should be eating as well as which ones you should be avoiding at all costs!

From more pregnancy safe exercise and other guidelines, check out Pregnancy Without Pounds. And for hundreds of unique baby bedding and gift ideas, check out The Frog and the Princess!