Every New Year I seem to get questions about kick-starts for New Year dieting or recovery from the holiday sweet-fest. Well here is one of my more basic, easy to manage tips that seem to work well for most busy people who are just getting started for the first time or in a long time. This one is designed to attack sweet cravings, help clear the gut and make you feel better. It is good for a quick out of the gate drop of excess body water and to help get healthy enzyme and pro-biotic activity going.
- Step away from ALL soda (yes, diet too), oddly enough diet soda can increase your cravings for sweets. Also can prevent vitamin and mineral absorption.
- Drink coffee black or have tea (green or black) – black and unsweetened in the way to kick-start, plus you get greater benefits of the antioxidants and other good things.
- Drink a couple liters of water a day, hydration is the key to feeling better and helping flush the system. Of course spring water will be a good choice since it is typically higher in minerals.
- Have an apple between breakfast and lunch. The redder the better, has fiber and other good stuff.
- Salad with a vinegar (low-cal) dressing (subway salads rock, no meat though and lots of the veggies), another great option even for a meal if paired with (real, not lunch meat, thinks lean chicken breast, turkey or tuna.
- low-fat Greek Yogurt (love Chobani) between lunch and dinner. Some manufacturers play games with the content so don’t believe the labeling look at the ingredients. Low-fat Chobani is one I really like from an ingredient and profile perspective, very satiating.
- If you have to have something before bed have another apple or small salad.
Do this for 2 weeks while increasing your activity level, like taking the stairs as many times and flights as you can instead of the elevator, park in the back of the lot, go for a walk in the park, mall (stay away from the food court) or wherever, hit the gym, anything.
For meals follow sensible healthful, portion controlled, plan lean protein, quality carbs and fats.
If you are adding weight training might I recommend Body-for-LIFE by Bill Phillips by the book for best results or you can incorporate Eating-for-LIFE cookbook by Bill Phillips for more moderate results like Tonia and I had, both books will get you going the right direction simply and effectively.
We wish you all the best for 2012!!!
