The EASY & REALISTIC Way to Shed Stubborn Holiday Pounds

Mouth-watering roasts, succulent hams, yummy side dishes and decadent desserts...

Did you overeat just a tad? Overindulge? Stuff yourself silly?

Good! You did the right thing. Life is far too short for deprivation. Satisfying your taste buds with tantalizing dishes is perfectly okay- as long as you don't do it every day. It's normal to overindulge during the holidays, so don't feel too bad. Remember, millions of others are in the same boat as you are.

So, if you've gained a few kilos, follow these tips and you'll be back in your skinny jeans in no time. NOTE: I do not believe in crash diets or quick weight loss schemes because they never work in the long run.

7 EASY WAYS TO SHED THOSE HOLIDAY POUNDS

1. Do not panic. Yes, your tummy is bloated and you can't button your pants- it's okay. The first step to successful weight loss is to love and respect your body. Your top priority in losing weight should be to feel better, not look better. It helps to have a sense of humor about your weight gain, too. Sometimes, joking about an issue makes it less unpleasant, like I said to my husband recently, "there is an extra kilo (or two) of ME for you to love." Adding a big smile and batting your eyelashes is optional with this statement.

2. Start drinking water- and I mean LOTS of it. Water helps to shed excess weight naturally, and it's also good for flushing toxins (like the ones in my kidneys and liver from drinking all that extra wine). Drinking plenty of water makes you feel full, so you're inclined to eat less. Oh, and keep alcohol to a minimum for a few days. It's fine to enjoy a modest glass of wine with your meal, but avoid sweet cocktails and hard liquor. Absolutely NO soft drinks!

3. Eat all of your sweets and carbs in the morning (sweets as in FRUITS and carbs as in MULTI GRAINS). I eat a variety of fruit for breakfast, followed by either multi-grain bread or cereal, and yogurt. By doing this, you will satisfy your sweet tooth with the natural fructose and the carbs will be burned throughout the day. Some of these quick diets discourage carbohydrates, but your body really does need them. As long as you eat the right carbs early in the day, it's fine. Don't deprive yourself. Oh, and NEVER skip breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day!

4. Have a nice, big lunch. A generous salad, several cooked vegetables, and some protein is perfect. Be creative so that meals do not become monotonous. There are so many vegetables to choose from and you can eat them grilled, roasted, sauteéd, stewed, baked, or even raw. Season dishes liberally with herbs, spices, pepper, and olive oil (not butter). Eat as much as you like of the salad and veggies, be frugal with the meat, and skip dessert. By eating a big lunch, you will avoid overeating at dinner. For those of you who love pasta and cannot give it up no matter how hard you try, lunch is definitely the time to eat it- just go easy on the portion size. Rice and spelt are also good alternatives.

5. Dinner should be early with the same kinds of foods you ate for lunch, but in smaller portions. Avoid carbs at night. By eating less and doing so early in the evening, you should burn off the food before bedtime. Eating late and going to sleep soon afterward is a great way to gain weight, not to mention giving yourself heartburn or acid reflux.

6. What about exercise? Should you join a gym? Sure, that always helps, but I intend to walk it off (I hate the gym and prefer being outside in Nature). A brisk, 30-45 minute daily walk, accompanied by regular stretches, a bit of weight training (like dumb bells) and some abdominal crunches will eventually produce noticeable results. The trick is to create a routine that works for YOU and make it part of your daily life. Trying to adopt the routines of others and not enjoying yourself in the process is a waste of time.

7. Be patient. This is the toughest part for me because I'm not a very patient person. Like most people, I want to see results NOW. It's not easy to love your body the way it is- especially with the media constantly bombarding us with perfect, young bodies! Here is what I tell myself constantly: "Good health is my most valuable possession." And it's true. Without good health, one cannot enjoy life. When you have this mindset, an extra kilo or two is really no big deal.

Losing weight the natural, healthy way is not quick, but the results will last longer. Remember: it is not a diet, it is a lifestyle. Please note that the advice I've listed are for those with only a few extra kilos to lose. If you are obese (or have gained an unusual amount of weight within a short period of time), you should seek the help of a health professional. Thank you for reading!