It's been a while since I welcomed a guest blogger and Katie, a regular reader of COFG, wanted to share some of her personal favorite tips for Winter weight-watching:
5 Tips for Fall and
Winter Dieting
Fall brings along many changes: the leaves fall, the weather cools down, and food becomes heartier. With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, the opportunities to trip up on your diet increase exponentially. Here are a few tips to keep your diet in check, regardless of the temptations out there.
Portion Control
It is always good to keep how much you are eating in mind when you eat a meal. Chances are you are eating far more than your body needs to stay energized. Monitor what you eat and how much you eat, and do your best to keep it down to what you need to have in order to maintain good overall health and nutrition. If you are at a big dinner, eat one plate of your favorite items and resist the temptation to go back for more.
Drink More Water
Staying hydrated and getting plenty of water will benefit you in multiple ways. Not only does getting proper hydration help eliminate toxins, but helps to maintain your ph and is great for the skin in the dry winter weather. Drinking plenty of water is recommended in most diet plans and should help throughout the day with minimizing extra food cravings as well.
Snack Effectively
Cold weather puts extra strain on your body in many different ways, so your cravings for comfort foods are going to increase. Fight off the urge to splurge with some healthier snack alternatives. Eat some fresh fruit or raw, unsalted nuts between meals, and watch the cravings disappear. You will stay fueled without adding extra weight or insulation to your frame.
Stick to Regular
Coffee or Tea
The cooler climate also creates a desire to drink hot beverages to warm you up. Rather than getting a high-calorie pumpkin spice latte or hot chocolate with whipped cream, opt for regular coffee or tea, which has far fewer calories. Diet versions of holiday favorites are also available, and seasonal creamers come in low-cal versions too.
Savor Sparingly
The time will come when you absolutely must have a piece of cake, pumpkin pie, or your favorite cookie. Just do it, but do so sparingly. Have a small piece or one cookie, and then get right back on your diet plan. It’s not wrong to want a treat every now and then, but don’t go overboard.
By-line: This post was contributed by Kelly
Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of nursing schools. She invites
your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com.