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Hi there,

Yesterday we looked at tips for holiday eating and how you can manage your weight during the holidays. Today we are going to look at how portion control can be your answer to managing your weight.

It sure makes sense if you are eating junk food and gaining weight. But eating healthy and gaining weight? Something is definitely wrong with that equation! Could it be that you are overeating?

Do you know that it is possible to gain weight while you are eating healthy. The trick to losing weight is to control your portion sizes. You need to watch what foods you eat and the quantities of the foods you eat to ensure you eat healthily, but at the same time eating just what your body needs.

It is not enough to just control portion sizes, you also need to control the calories that are present in the food you are putting into your stomach. The secret to losing weight lies in the amount of calories you consume on a daily basis, and the amount of calories you burn on a daily basis. To be able to lose weight, you need to be able to burn more calories than you consume.

The issue of portion sizes takes us to the point of how important it is to be able to read food labels. If you want to learn more about portion sizes, read the article titled How to Lose Weight Quickly by Calorie Counting. Knowing exactly what you are putting into your mouth can help you take better control of the food that you are eating and their quantities.

With this calorie counting method and knowing how to read food labels, you will be able to reduce your calorie intake to what it should be instead of overeating, if you find yourself consuming more calories than you need.

Another way to ensure that you only eat what your body needs and exercise better control with your portions is to eat on a smaller plate. First of all there will be no space to put in the extra food, and you will not feel like you are not eating enough because the small food is dished out in a large plate with lots of extra space.

The mind is very powerful, and so it should also be satisfied. It is important that it registers that plate which is filled with food. Even though you might be eating less food than what you were eating before, it is crucial for the brain to think you are still eating from a full plate.

Junk foods are known to derail any diet plan, so you need to stay clear of  that.

Another great way to ensure you control your portions is to include fruits and vegetables in your diet. Opt for raw fruits and vegetables, instead of processed ones because they are the best for your body when they are raw. Not only will these be great as snacks, they have vitamins, fiber and other nutrients that promote your health.

So next time you are feeling like a snack, instead of opting for a candy bar, go for a fruit snack.

If this article has been helpful to you, please email it to a friend.

Hello there,

We all excited when it is time for holidays, but there is a bit of a downside. Holidays come with increased eating of unhealthy or fattening foods and less commitment in the exercise or healthy arena. Weight gains are usually recorded during the holiday season, but with these tips, you can manage to maintain your weight.

Just because it is holidays shouldn’t mean that you should forget about eating healthy or exercise. The traditional foods that are prepared for the holidays can still be consumed in a healthy way for example, turkey with all its trimmings is tasty. To enjoy it healthily, make sure you remove the skin.

Exercise should also remain a key focus for you, especially during the holidays. Holidays are meant for relaxation, and for most people they are also meant for reduced physical activity. The good thing is that holidays are associated with shopping, which can be a great opportunity for you. Walk as much as you can while you are at the mall, and try to find parking that is far from the mall entrance. Even the little things will make a difference.

While we are in the topic of shopping, make sure you eat before you go out shopping. You will be less likely to be tempted to eat something at the mall, and not necessarily because you are hungry but because it will be tempting for you.

Don’t forget everything you have learnt about portion sizes. Portions can make a big difference to you having control of your weight. This can be challenging because during the holidays everyone one just seems to be eating away, and your cousin who eats whatever she wants and not gain weight will be at most family gatherings that you will be attending. Challenging as it may be, you still need to exercise some discipline.

Alcohol usually flows nonstop during the holidays. Try and stay away as much as you can. If you must, keep it lite.

Holidays are definitely hard for weight management but if you follow these tips, you might come off the holiday season with little regret.

Fit Yummy Mummy Review

What Is It About?

This lifestyle program for busy moms is a comprehensive guide to what’s arguably the most widespread, challenging and frustrating issue faced by moms today: how to get their pre-baby body back.

For almost all mothers the changes their bodies incur during pregnancy coupled with the countless responsibilities that motherhood bring spell trouble for regaining their pre-pregnancy figure. There is no shortage of fitness, diet and fat loss products on the market today. You can find a veritable library of conflicting arguments almost anywhere you choose to seek information on the subject of fitness for women, whether it’s online, at your local library or through contact with personal trainers.

What Sets This Product Apart? After months of frustration spent trawling through the mass of conflicting information on fitness and fat loss, it was with a mixture of joy and near-tearful relief that I stumbled across “Fit Yummy Mummy”, by Holly Rigsby. As the title suggests, this product is specifically for moms wanting to get fit.

Literally all aspects of losing fat and getting fit are covered – and the best part is that it is written specifically for busy moms. The material is presented in a manner both chatty and educational – it’s kind of like having a friendly conversation with a close friend that happens to be a fitness expert (with the added benefit of being able to refresh your understanding of the matter at any given time, simply by scrolling back to the relevant section!) The tone of the book presents a welcome contrast to the other fitness products so freely available elsewhere on the Net: it’s friendly, understanding of the unique situations moms face, informative, and above all, commonsensical. No unrealistic recommendations, 2 hour workouts, or zero-carb diets here: it doesn’t take long to see that this lady knows what she’s talking about when it comes to mom’s lifestyles (and did I mention she’s a mom too?)

What’s Actually Included? There’s a quick section on getting started and goal setting along with some morale-boosting advice on how to stay on track throughout the program, and then it’s straight into an action plan to get you started on the path to burning baby fat and getting your body back. The Supportive Nutrition Plan is next – this is particularly helpful! Every conceivable nutrition issue is covered, from how often you should eat to what you should keep in your pantry. And on top of that, it includes a ‘Create a Menu Planner’ to guide you in creating every meal to support your success.

Next, the Fit Yummy Mummy fat loss workouts are covered, but not without easy to follow explanations of the why’s and the how’s for every part of the workout program. The workout plan even offers four different formats that you can plug into your lifestyle, something not found in any of the cookie cutter fat loss programs on the market. My favorite part of the workout section is that regardless of your exercise (or lack of exercise) background, there is a workout designed specifically for you. And no matter what you fitness level is, none of the workout programs require more than 90 minutes a week.

Finally, there’s a section called the Busy Mom’s Fat Loss Companion crammed with easy to use tools and resources like a goal setting sheet, fitness journal, exercise descriptions and even a ready made grocery list. The author has figured out every excuse and obstacle busy moms have and addressed them all. Just Because It’s Detailed Doesn’t Mean It’s Confusing Sound overwhelming? It’s actually very user-friendly. Not only is this e-book packed with sound practical advice and the whole thing is laid out in a very logical and easy-to-understand format, but it comes with a Quick Start Guide to make sure you start acting (and seeing results) fast. The tone of Fit Yummy Mummy light and non-threatening (no scientific terminology here!) and it proceeds in a logical manner from step to step, with plenty of photos and descriptions to ensure that you are doing everything right.

Troubleshooting. In my opinion, one of the best parts: a follow up e-mail coaching series from the author that keeps you on track, gives you daily fitness tips and even healthy recipes. While most moms have the best of intentions, staying on track is tough. This follow up e-mail coaching series is the perfect solution. The Verdict Regaining their pre-pregnancy body is a daunting task for most moms, but the author’s personal experience and hands on work with over 250 moms is pretty reassuring; and she certainly knows how to break it down for even the most exercise illiterate.

In addition to the main features detailed above, there are plenty of valuable extras included to make getting your pre-baby body back as easy as possible: checklists, do’s and don’ts, printable workout sheets, even ready to follow meal plans! All in all, two thumbs up from me: when the information on hand is as detailed, easy to absorb, and – above all – reliable as Fit Yummy Mummy, you really can’t go wrong.

Get your copy of Fit Yummy Mummy today!