Ways to Keep Off the Pounds This Winter

It happens every year. At the beginning of the New Year, people make resolutions to lose weight in the coming year. Wouldn’t it be great if you could stop making that resolution for once? There are ways to keep the pounds off this winter if you’re willing to make the effort.

What you eat greatly influences how much you weigh. That’s why most people think of going on a diet when they want to lose weight. Did you know your food and beverage choices can also help you keep weight off during colder months?

Colder months often mean there’s less to keep you busy. This means you’ll also be less active. If you snack, be sure your snack food of choice is healthy. Vegetable sticks and fruit slices are less likely to pack on the pounds than fudge, sugary cookies, or warm brownies. However, you don’t have to totally give up sweets. When you do crave something sweet you can cut up fruit and spoon it over angel food cake. You’ll have the sweet taste you desire without all the extra sugar and fat.

Make home-made soups and stews from scratch rather than choosing canned varieties. You’ll have more control over what goes into them. You can add fresh ingredients as well as leave out the preservatives and chemicals which are often a part of processed foods. Freshly prepared foods are healthier for you and taste better, too.

Don’t forget to use your crock pot if you have one. There are so many dishes to make in a crock pot – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert can all be made in one. And what could be better than putting the ingredients into the crock pot in the morning and having a hot, healthy meal ready to eat when you get home from your daily activities?

Use skim milk rather than whole or 2% milk. This will save both calories and fat which you really don’t need if you’re trying to keep the pounds at bay. Low-fat cheese is another food you can use to save calories. Also, trim the excess fat and remove the skin to save calories from the meats you eat.

When holiday get-togethers begin to fill your calendar, remember to eat something healthy before you leave. This will fill you up so you’re less tempted to reach for a second helping or the sweets that seem to grace the table during the winter months. You can also drink a full glass of water before eating so you won’t be as likely to overeat.

If you do find you’ve over-indulged, don’t berate yourself. Instead, find an outdoor activity you can enjoy which will get you moving and burning those extra calories. Cross country or mountain skiing, snowboarding, or snow shoeing are all options. You may also enjoy taking a walk in the brisk air and falling snow. You can even go running in colder weather if that’s your favorite exercise. Be sure to dress appropriately to reduce the possibility of frostbite or hypothermia.

If outdoor activities aren’t appealing, you can also find things to keep you active indoors. Join a gym, do aerobics with friends, buy a stationary bike or treadmill. The important thing is to keep moving.

There’s no way to guarantee you won’t gain weight, but using these ideas for ways to keep the pounds off this winter may give you a better shot at keeping the extra pounds away. Remember, every day you choose what you eat and how active you are.

I spent most of my teenage years overweight. I got pregnant with my first child and lost alot of weight. I joined the military to take care of my daughter Danielle. When I joined the military, I discovered exercise in a big way. I continued to maintain my weight loss as I was introduced to running, weight lifting, yoga, pilates, spinning, Tae Kwon Do, and many more forms of exercise. I spent alot of sad days as a teenager and now I know about the power of exercising.

I became addicted to muscle fitness magazines, supplements, bodybuilding, and fitness dvds and videos. I did that because it kept me motivated and inspired. I am still learning that the basic foundation is also your overall fitness. One of those video’s is It’s a great calorie burning workout that helps increase balance and strength. If you think about it, you can really feel your core engage while doing this. The segments start to get harder as the workout goes on, and I admit I found the kickboxing combos a little challenging and took a while to get more comfortable with it. You’ll really feel your muscles the next day for sure. My favourite part of it all though is the stretch at the end. It’s so relaxing and deserved after finishing this. I’ve even done the stretch segment at the end of a day without having done a workout because I find it so relaxing.

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There are so many diets, theories, recipes, and books floating around that its easy to get overwhelmed by it all. And NO ONE has the time or energy to sort through the countless number of websites trying to piece together the perfect diet for you.

There is no denying that there are many reasons why one should incorporate more raw foods in their diet. Here are 5 possible benefits when eating a raw food diet, or at least incorporating more raw foods in your diet.

Sticking to a raw food diet isn’t easy. Most raw foodists spend a lot of time in the kitchen peeling, chopping, straining, blending, and dehydrating. That’s because the diet is typically made up of 75% fruits and vegetables. Staples of the raw food diet include:

• seaweed
• sprouts
• sprouted seeds
• whole grains
• beans
• dried fruits
• nuts

Alcohol, refined sugars, and caffeine are taboo.

Most raw foodists are raw food vegans, who eat no animal products, but some do eat raw eggs and cheese made from raw or unpasteurized milk.

1. Lowers Free Radicals and formation of Disease

The reversal or elimination of many chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer can be accomplished through a raw food diet. When food is cooked it creates free radicals; a major cause of cancer. When you lower the number of free radicals in your cells, you lower your risk of cancer. A diet that is mostly raw eliminates the need for over cooking foods which in turns lowers the creation of free radicals in the body.

2. Saves Money

When you eat raw foods you save money. This is because when you eat raw your body is getting more of the necessary nutrients than it needs so there is no need for all the supplements and vitamins that those who eat more cooked food tend to consume. Also with raw food you eliminate many of the pots, pans, and appliances needed for cooking because you prepare it as opposed to cooking it. Another way you save money is because a diet that is high in raw foods eliminates many of the illnesses that are caused by over cooked foods so you are not bothered with many medical expenses.

3. Saves Time

Raw foods take very little preparation so you spend less time in the kitchen. Most raw food meals that even your children can help in the preparation and some can do the preparation alone.

4. Normalizes Body Weight

Consuming raw foods will help you achieve your ideal body weight. With raw foods you won’t feel fat and if you are too thin, you will actually start to look healthier. And a huge plus is that you won’t have to worry about counting calories.

5. More Energy

An excellent benefit of raw food is that most people feel more energy. With raw foods your metabolic rate is higher and you feel like actually doing something. Cooked foods load your body down making it feel tired and you are not as active as you would like to be.

Overall raw food consumption is a great way to create a body that is healthy and looks great inside and out. If you are thinking of adopting a raw food idea make it an aim to have a diet that is 50% to 75% raw.

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