Anybody been overindulging in holiday treats? It is so hard to limit the sweets and treats during the holiday season because everything looks so good! Sticking to routines is tough with all the business that goes on with the holiday rush.

 

 

As the holiday season continues on, I want to encourage you watch what you eat. When it comes to holiday parties, make sure to put everything you are eating on a plate and not just stand there and keep picking at things. By placing everything on your plate, you see how much you are actually eating. When it comes to sweets, maybe pick one or two small desserts and place them on your plate and walk away. Don’t sample all of them. One thing you should never feel guilty for is not eating all your dessert. Make sure that you really want it, because you don’t want to consume calories that are just “ok”.

 

I signed up for the free Let’s Fight Holiday Fat website sponsored by alli. It is really easy to set up your account. It will ask you how much weight you want to lose along with what kind of exercise you want to do. It also asks you upfront if you want specific types of meals and I was able to put in vegetarian. After the initial setup it will take you to a Home page where you can set a schedule for exercise, see daily meals specific to your dietary preference, write in a personal journal, track your progress, track your calories with what you eat and your activities, and post your pictures. Mostly the website is set up to support you through your weight loss journey.

 

One great recipe is the Portabella Mushroom Burger:

 

• Ingredients

  1. 4 large portabello mushroom caps, 5 inches in diameter
  2. 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
  3. 1/2 cup water
  4. 1 TBSP sugar
  5. 1 garlic clove, minced
  6. 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, optional
  7. 2 TBSP olive oil
  8. 2 whole wheat buns, toasted
  9. 4 slices tomato
  10. 4 slices red onion
  11. 2 bibb lettuce leaves, halved

• Preparations

  1. Clean mushrooms with a damp cloth and remove their stems. Place in a glass dish, stem (gill) side up.
  2. To prepare the marinade, in a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, water, sugar, garlic, cayenne pepper, and olive oil. Drizzle the marinade over the mushrooms. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for about 1 hour, turning mushrooms once.
  3. Prepare a hot fire in a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill or broiler. Away from the heat source, lightly coat the grill rack or broiler pan with cooking spray. Position the cooking rack 4 to 6 inches from the heat source.
  4. Grill or broil the mushrooms on medium heat, turning often, until tender, about 5 minutes each side. Baste with marinade to keep from drying out. Using tongs, transfer the mushrooms to a plate.
  5. Place each mushroom on a bun and top with 1 tomato slice, 1 onion slice, and 1/2 lettuce leaf. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts – Serving Size: 1 burger, Amount Per Serving, Calories 283 Cal. from Fat 81,

% Daily Value^{∗ –} Total Fat 9g 14%, Sodium 140mg 6%, Total Carbohydrates 46g 15%, Dietary Fiber 9g 36%, Protein 8g 16% ^{∗Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet}

 

After the holiday season I will continue to use the website for healthy meals and to track my calories. I definitely need to lose weight. Since having my kids I have an extra 15 pounds to lose! Ideally I could stand to lose 20 to 30 pounds. In the new year I pan on losing weight and I will use this website to help me.

 

Busy Mom and Let’s Fight Holiday Fat spokesperson, Samantha Harris, shares her tips for ‘Surviving the Season’.

1. Make healthy low-fat food choices. Swap out the high fat ingredients in your favorite holiday recipe for healthier options.
2. Snack Often. Have healthy snacks at hand to help keep you from reaching for holiday goodies. Apples, low-fat string cheese and baby carrots are low-fat and easy to pack! Have a sweet tooth? Try a small peppermint candy (fat-free!) to satisfy your temptation.
3. Exercise. Exercise. Exercise. Finding small ways to fit in physical activity can help maintain your weight and energy throughout the season. Going holiday shopping? Park the car in the farthest spot from the store entrance. Cooking? Work your legs with squats while waiting for the water to boil.
4. Plan Ahead. Going to a holiday party? Eat a low-fat snack at home to help you stay on track and avoid over-indulging in unhealthy choices.
5. Keep Stress Levels Low. Eating healthy and being physically active can play a big part in keeping holiday stress at bay. Keeping stress levels low also may help prevent weight gain. Try to find a time in a busy day to take a few minutes for exercise, deep breathing, or eat a healthy, low-fat snack.

 

If you would like some help managing your weight this holiday season, sign up on the Let’s Fight Holiday Fat website and see how it can help you. Good luck with your weight loss goals in the new year!

 

 

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for alli. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.”