The turkey is finished, the Christmas tree has been put out in the garden, the decorations are back in the loft. It is time to get on with 2016.
After the excesses of Christmas a lot of us decide we need to eat better and lose a bit of weight. Clients who come to see me have often tried every diet, been to every slimming club and bought every calorie control cookery book but they still can’t lose weight and keep the weight off.
It’s time to do something different. Instead of thinking about punishing yourself with a diet, treat your body with good nutrition. Eat three meals a day – don’t skip breakfast. For main meals enjoy a rainbow of fresh, tasty vegetables with some lean protein. Fruit contains a lot of sugar so small amounts of fruit are sufficient.
Speaking of sugar, be aware of the amount of sugar in your food and drink. Some guidelines:
- Avoid low-fat, ‘slimming foods’. The fat has often been replaced with sugar.
- Reduce consumption of cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks. A small amount of nuts and seeds are a healthier treat.
- Watch out for added sugar in processed foods. If you look at the labels, you will find sugar as an ingredient in soup, sandwiches and ready meals.
- Drink plenty of water. Hot water with a slice of lemon and fresh root ginger is a healthy option.
- Reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol contains empty calories and disinhibits you so that you tend to eat more.
- If you are eating out, avoid the bread basket. Swap the potatoes for a different vegetable. When the waiter says ‘Would you like to see the dessert menu?’ say ‘No’!
A new free app has been launched that enables you to scan bar codes on food packaging to find out how much sugar is in your food and drink.
If you know what to eat but you’re still not doing it, contact me for a free 30 minute consultation to find out how I can help you.