Today is the last day of 12 days of holiday tips. My friends Ilyse Schapiro and Hallie Rich have been sharing health tips and I hope it’s been helpful! I love their advice because it’s practical.
I know it’s hard to change food habits you have been doing for many years but these tips will not just help you for the holidays, they will help you live a healthier life!
There’s still time to fit into that outfit for New Years:
To lose one pound in a week, you have to consume 3,500 fewer calories than you burn. A great way to do this is to eliminate about 500 calories per day. That may seem like a lot, but it’s easier than you think and not so drastic. By reducing your caloric intake by 250 calories per day and increasing your exercise routine to burn an extra 250 calories per day, you’ll have achieved the right balance.
To cut calories, start by swapping snacks. Forget the pretzels and chips and go for healthier alternatives like carrots, celery, cucumbers, or peppers. These can help satisfy your need for a crunch while making a dent in the calories you need to save. If plain veggies won’t cut it, have them with a little bit of hummus or dip.
Next, eliminate processed foods—they’re not natural and your body often doesn’t know how to digest them. They also tend to have tons of sugar and/or fat, which won’t do your figure any favors. Keep this junk out of the house, office, car, or wherever you spend your time. This will help you avoid triggers and temptations, and you will find it easier to keep your eye on the prize.
Along these lines, plan out your meals and snacks as best you can. By preparing your own food, you will be able to be in control of what you eat when. Try not to eat out or get take out. Restaurants tend to prepare big dishes and large sides, which can mean more calories and fat.
Want more tips? Check out Should I Scoop Out My Bagel, about diet and nutrition. This book has 99 easy to read chapter that answer some of your questions about how to eat healthy and how to make better choices. It’s very informative! It’s also a very easy book to read – it gives you simple and usable advice!
Got a question? Leave me a comment and Hallie and Ilyse can answer it for you! And if you want an easy book to read about diet and nutrition, order Should I Scoop Out My Bagel at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Come back tomorrow for another helpful health tip! Click here to read previous tips.
Ilyse Schapiro is a MS, RD, CDN is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Dietitian/Nutritionist who holds a Master’s of Science in clinical nutrition and dietetics from New York University.
Hallie Rich is the creator of alternaVites, a comprehensive multivitamin & mineral in crystal powder form that melts quickly in your mouth – the first of its kind. alternaVites quickly became the definitive “non pill” vitamin option and filled an unnecessary void in the market.