We all had a great time over the holidays.  It was a great time with family and tons of great food.  Now it is time to pay the piper.  National average for weight gain over the holidays is only 2 pounds.  This does not seem very high, but the problem is that if this weight is not lost you will accumulate weight gain and be heavier the following year.  This leads to long term obesity.

The secret to weight loss is simple mathematics, you must burn more calories than you bring in .

Some tips to get started with a successful plan for this year:

• Get rid of all of the holiday sweets.  If they are not in the house…you will be less tempted to eat them.
• Go to the grocery store and stock up on lean meats, vegetables, and fruits.
• Drink lots of water.  As I covered in a prior blog, you can often be thirsty instead of hungry.  Drink water before meals.
• Get into some physical activity.  Life itself is not enough to reach your goals.  Do something you will enjoy, of course, I would recommend Taekwondo or Cardio Kickboxing.  http://www.seemykicks.com
• Set realistic goals:  Over the long term, it’s best to aim for losing 1 to 2 pounds a week, although initially you might lose weight more quickly if you make significant changes — just be sure the changes are health supporting. To lose 1 to 2 pounds a week, you need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day, through a low-calorie diet and regular exercise.
• Take a before picture and put it on the refrigerator
• With some of your Christmas money, go out and buy clothes in the size you want to be wearing later in the year.  Seeing your goal line will help keep you motivated.
• Get out there and do it.

Frank Bruni’s Restaurant Survival Tips

1. Don’t fast beforehand

If you prep for a big meal by avoiding food all day, you’ll eat madly and mindlessly, your hunger and sense of sacrifice egging you on.

2. Pace your alcohol

If you start right in with two martinis, you’ll lose perspective and restraint. Enjoy a cocktail or two–but gradually, as the meal progresses.

3. Lose the breadbasket

Indulge for 10 minutes, max, and then have the basket removed. If it’s there, you’ll reach for it without thinking. If it’s not, you won’t miss it.

4. Take inventory

You don’t need to eat everything. If the food  is great and you’re not full yet, have some more. But if the food’s disappointing, stop scarfing it down.

5. Share a dessert

It’s a kindness to your wallet as well as your waistline. You’ll still enjoy your sweet fix. And as sacrifices go, it’s not a huge one.

Next…What to order and what to stay away from when you are eating out.