Ghost of Binge Past

Holidays and special events should be a time of great joy, but dieters customarily imagine these occasions with dread and horror. Why? Because celebrations are not celebrations without lots of high-calorie, tempting foods. Does this suggest that you have to become a social-scrooge to duck temptation? No. The "secret" is to create a survival "plan" ahead of time and stick to it throughout this holiday season.

"If you fail to plan, you can plan to fail" is a time worn and clich?d statement. But it's still wonderful success advice. Not only do most people fail to plan, they consciously plan to fail over the holidays.

Most people expect to "blow" their diet and miss workouts during the holidays. They expect to eat more, exercise less and gain weight. Instead of putting forth the effort by taking control, they resign themselves to maintenance at best or back-sliding at worst.

This negative expectancy leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy. By the first week of January, they're in the worst shape they've been in for a year and they frantically make New Year's resolutions to shed the excess fat they've gained. Is that your approach? Or, are you going to be strong and really make it all the way to the New Year without gaining weight?

Let's revisit October with the ghost of binge past. Oktoberfest plus Halloween equaled a huge junk food binge for some of us. Oktoberfest and Halloween are over and done. Does that mean you are going to let the ghost of binge past turn you into a food scrooge? Are you going to pass up seasonal celebrations to avoid the fattening feasts?

Ho, Hum! How do you avoid turning into a miserable ol' food scrooge?

First, get the Halloween candy out of your house. Take it far away. Okay, there are hungry children in third world countries, but you cannot lend a hand by eating everything in sight! Plus, feeding our sweet tooth is like watering a plant. It only makes the thing bigger, needing more the next time. Ho, Hum!

Wait! Look into your secret stashes and throw them in the trash with old coffee grounds and banana peel (so they won't find their way back out again). Yes, get rid of the sweets in your desk.

If you empty out all the candy, and find that your house echoes because there's nothing left in it, swap them with snacks such as unsalted nuts, fruits and vegetables.

Second, plan to tell friends and family to forego food gifts. If you still get them, thank the person, but later give the food away to someone else. This way, you won't hurt the giver's feelings and you will eliminate your temptation.

Third, manage your time. With hectic schedules, there never seems to be enough time to plan, eat, exercise, clean, shop, cook, and decorate. Sit down and write out daily schedules for the weeks before your events. Determine what you can reasonable do in specific time frames and then plan to do it. Manage to have a meal replacement when you are on the go. They are far more nutritious than a fast food meal and more convenient.

Fourth, plan to modify your recipes. You don't have to give up traditional favorites ? just modify them. For instance, make turkey stuffing low fat by saut?ing onions and celery in broth in place of butter. Use sugar-free gelatin to slice calories in gelatin molds. Take a look at your recipes to see if you can eliminate or decrease some ingredients or use lower calorie substitutes.

Fifth, plan to leave the leftovers. Too often leftover food goes into your mouth instead of the storage container, even if you're already stuffed. Give leftovers away, make packages for your guests to take with them, take food into work, or divide leftovers into portions to use with your diet plan.

Sixth, control your eating. The moment you arrive to a holiday gathering, check out the food and pick out a few "healthy" foods to eat and skip all the others. Eat slowly and savor every bite. So you don't overeat, eating a meal replacement beforehand can help fill you up before you reach the holiday party table loaded with "once a year, you have to eat me treats."

Seventh, meal replacement are your answer if you're like most people, and don't' have several hours a day to prepare healthy and nutritious meals. Study shows that people who replace several meals a week with portion-controlled foods, like liquid shakes or snack bars, lose significantly more weight in three months than folks who simple try to cut calories. What's the secret of meal replacements? Meal replacements keep it simple. Forget counting carbs or calories!

So you see, you don't have to fail to plan. You really can make it to New Years without gaining an ounce by including meal replacements in your diet. And, when you make it to New Years Day (and you have not gained weight), you will be free to avoid the parade of New Years dieters. Everyone else will be starting the latest fad, but you will be living your new lifestyle without deprivation dieting. Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

For more information on how to lose weight and get lean using meal replacements visit http://www.waistline-management.com or call Dolletta Mitchell at 888-325-3062.

Dolletta Mitchell is a Health Advisor with Take Shape For Life, a subsidiary of Medifast, Inc. Dolletta provides weight loss and disease prevention management solutions that have been recommended by over 15,000 physicians nationwide and used by more than 750,000 overweight customers. Dolletta caring and positive, encouraging attitude and knowledge about wellness issues is a part of why her program has been successful to so many. She will educate, support, and assist you in attaining a healthier lifestyle. photo link: http://www.waistline-management.com

shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
In The News:

Google’s scam detection features, powered by artificial intelligence, are a significant step forward in safeguarding Android users from fraud.
The FBI has issued a warning that scammers are impersonating doctors, police and banks using spoofed numbers as "smishing" texts surge nationwide.
Communities with unreliable internet service stand to gain after Amazon's Project Kuiper launched its first full batch of satellites into orbit April 28.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says unsubscribing from spam might actually backfire. Learn when to avoid it and stop junk effectively.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how the first nonstop beating heart transplant, called zero ischemic time, at Taiwan hospital changes surgery.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson: FBI warns of "time-traveling" hackers.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about a soft, vine-like robot called SPROUT that aids safe survivor rescues in collapsed buildings.
Health insurance giant Blue Shield of California confirmed it had been sharing private health data of 4.7 million users with Google for three years without even realizing it.
Delta and JetZero’s blended wing body aircraft marks a meaningful step toward a cleaner, quieter and more efficient future for air travel.
Recent reports show many common passwords can be cracked in literally seconds. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how to strengthen your passwords.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Iron, a robot that stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 154 pounds, combines advanced artificial intelligence with human-like movement and exceptional vision.
Hertz, the rental car giant, recently confirmed that customer information was exposed through a cyberattack on one of its software vendors.
There are a number of features with AirPods you may or may not know about to take your listening experience to the next level. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.
These 35 Chrome extensions have privacy and security concerns. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says to delete them now.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says 329,000 mph fusion rocket promises to be fast, disruptive and enable deep-space missions.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a new autonomous AI is a game changer that also raises privacy risks. Is your data safe?
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says robots and drones are revolutionizing fruit farming with faster picking and smarter handling.
Landmark Admin revises May 2024 cyberattack scope to show twice as many people were affected. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives tips to help stay safe from an insurance data breach.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how Yamaha’s hydrogen outboard motor could revolutionize boating with zero emissions.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to memorialize or remove a deceased loved one’s Facebook account and protect their digital legacy from misuse or scams.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says an Apple Watch saved psychiatrist Amanda Faulkner by detecting deadly leukemia early.
Scammers and fraudsters are increasingly targeting the most vulnerable, especially nursing homes and the personal data of their residents. Kurt the CyberGuy has safety tips.
Infected USB flash drives can spread malware among multiple organizations in ways that can easily bypass traditional security systems.

How I Lost 12 Pounds And Had Fun Doing It!

You see it all the time; people agonizing over their... Read More

Mind, Body Weight Loss for life equals behavior change - The Acceptance Factor

Getting to the ROOT of the matter: If the plants... Read More

Play Ball To Get Fit

Chances are if you've stepped foot in a gym or... Read More

Weight Loss Options -- Infrared Radiant Heat Saunas (IR Saunas)

Infrared Radiant Heat (IRRH) is a form of radiation that... Read More

Barriers to Healthy Diets -- Removing them is not as hard as you think

Barriers to healthy diets are placed into four broad categories:... Read More

Positive Imaging for Weight Loss

Visualization is a powerful technique that can help you make... Read More

Push a Button to Lose Weight

Trash Your TV! is pleased to announce the easiest weight... Read More

Put Down That Brownie! Just One Bite Can Knock You Off Plan

It is very important for low carb dieters to stick... Read More

20 Ways to Lose Weight

20 WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT1. Take it one step at... Read More

Simple Weight Loss Plan

The math is pretty simple. One pound of fat equals... Read More

Why Do You Say You Want To Lose Weight?

How many of your New Year's resolution start out with... Read More

The Natural Truth About Quick Weight Loss

Actually, I was reading about fad diet and suddenly I... Read More

High Carbs/Low Fat Diets and Cardio Vascular Disease

For the past 20 years, the American public has been... Read More

Obesity Shortens Life Expectancy

Steady gains made in improvement in life expectancy may be... Read More

Seven Reasons Why You Might Take Hoodia

Good health is all too easily taken for granted until... Read More

The Big FAT Lie

Over two thirds of Americans are over weight, and half... Read More

Some Straight Talk About Low-Carbohydrates and Your Health

There have been many diets and weight loss plans that... Read More

Court Overturns Ban

In December 2003, the FDA incorporated an ephedra ban making... Read More

What Diet Plan Is Best For Losing Weight?

The answer to the title of this article is "none."... Read More

Understanding Weight Loss

A pound of fat represents approximately 3500 calories of stored... Read More

Oxygen Therapy For Weight Loss?

The chemistry sounds very straightforward. Human body fat is a... Read More

Side Effects of The Famous Ephedra Product

Ephedra has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of... Read More

Pushing Gastric Bypass: When to Talk, When to Keep Quiet

Sharing our bariatric stories is as personal decision as electing... Read More

Ive Been Dieting for Five Minutes - Am I Thin Yet?

When Instant Results Take TimeYesterday I decided to "get back... Read More

How To Be A Big Fat Loser In 2005

Now that the temptations of the Holiday season have passed... Read More

Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..