15 Simple Changes To Lose Weight In Time For The Holidays

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If you are like most people, you are really looking forward to the holidays: Parties, food, fun, and spending time with family and friends. What you probably aren’t looking forward to is finding something to wear that will hide those 15 or 20 pounds you have picked up since the last holiday party.

Want to sparkle in that snug party dress? Do you want to walk into your office party feeling confident about how you look? It’s not as hard as you might think.

Someone once quipped that “Diet is DIE with a t.” Most people feel that way about dieting — as if they need to starve themselves nearly to death to lose weight, but that is just an old wives tale.

Although you probably know that losing weight isn’t something that will happen overnight, what you might not know is that all it really takes is a few simple and easy changes to your life in order to lose weight easily but gradually.

Incorporating most of the following 15 changes into your everyday meal plan can go a long way toward helping you reach your goal of wearing something fabulous this holiday season.

Want to know more? Keep reading and find out how easy it can be to lose weight gradually, without starving yourself or living on carrots.

1. Change Your Plate

It sounds too simple to possibly work, but study after study says that it does: Using smaller plates (and therefore, smaller portions) really tricks your brain into thinking you are eating more than you actually are. For some reason, using blue plates also seems to cut appetites. Why do you think most fast food places use red and yellow? Because studies show that red and yellow increases appetites, while blue reduces your level of hunger. Scientists are not sure why this is, but numerous studies back it up. Use a large blue bowl for salads and a larger glass for water, but food portions should be consumed on a smaller, blue plate.

2. Look For Healthy Alternatives

Again, you don’t have to live on “rabbit food” to get results. Most of your favorite unhealthy foods have healthier substitutions that can drastically cut calories and fat. Try some low fat milk or coconut oil in your coffee instead of cream or half and half. Exchange mayo for mustard or avocado, eat your favorite sandwich ‘open face,’ and try oatmeal with fruit for breakfast instead of donuts. There are hundreds of substitutions that will dramatically lower calorie count, without making you feel deprived or like you are missing out on flavor.

3. Gradually Get Rid Of Unhealthy Habits

Changing some bad habits is probably the most difficult thing about losing weight. The problem is that most people figure it’s a black or white thing — that they can just stop doing things they have done most of their lives like changing their shoes. It isn’t that easy. People who try to go cold turkey usually end up falling off the wagon. Rather than try to make huge changes in your life, start making gradual changes a few at a time. If you usually eat a bag of potato chips with lunch, cut that to half a bag, and enjoy some baby carrots, too. If you usually drink soda during the day, drink a glass of water for every glass of soda. If you enjoy a bowl of ice cream after dinner, try frozen yogurt instead. You will be much more likely to stick to slow changes than trying to stop cold turkey.

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