How to Avoid Gaining Weight During The Holiday Season?

The holidays are approaching again! At this time we seem to be surrounded by tons of food which we find difficult to resist!

Let's try to :

1) Be sure to start every day with a healthy breakfast.

- seems easy to follow

2) Avoid drinking alcohol at holiday gatherings. Stick with water.

- I'll have 1-2 glass of wine (can't avoid it by 100%)

3) When it comes to appetizers, munch on raw veggies or crackers without the cheese. Keep up conversations!

- I can do it

4) It is now dinner time. Take a small helping of each food item. Eat slowly and enjoy every bite. Again keep up conversations!

- I will, but it's a lot of food...

5) Dessert time! Opt for your favorite available dessert. Be sure to be served a sliver as opposed to a large chunk. Sipping a cup of coffee or tea at this time will also help distract from further temptation. Conversations are key here again!

- Easy,especially after dinner time :o)

6) Most importantly, exercise over the holidays to continuously burn calories.

- Can't promise that I'll go to the GYM, but I will walk instead of driving much as possible.

Do you have something to share? Please do.

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Stay thin forever the French way

Stay thin forever....it's my dream. I tried a lot of different diets (Atkins, South Beach, Nutrisystem....etc) and none of them worked for me on long run. Only "South Beach" diet gave me good results, but cooking every day was to complicated and shopping to expensive.

By now I'm loosing weight and happy with my results.
I hope that later on I'll be able to maintain my weight loss and stabilize it.

French people are certainly no better than anyone else. No one loves to eat more than the French, but the same time French manage to stay slim and healthy. How is this possible?!
They are not being obsessed with calorie counting, working out at the gym for hours, they just making good food choices.

The beauty of "Montignac method" is its simplicity. I don't have to wrack my brain to learn complicated formulas or count calories. It's all about eating and enjoying the right food.

Once you'll start eating normal portions of right food (Low Glycemic Index(GI) and low fat) , your will see life-changing results.

Main rule - DON'T SKIP YOUR MEAL (especially your breakfast)......guilty, I used to do it.

I'm still on Phase 1 (later on I'll write more detail on it), so I don't eat food containing white flour and sugar.
Of course I'm cheating sometimes as normal human being (ice cream, rich dessert, toast with cream cheese...), but it's just occasional and pleasurable exception.

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Am I loosing weight?

I'm still loosing weight!!!

Minus 8.2 lbs for two weeks - not that bad. I didn't notice any big changes by myself and just keep going with my weight loss plan. Of course I can loose my extra pounds much faster, but :

1) I hate to be hungry
2) I need to care about my skin

..... and I have to remember that Skinny cow






not gazelle....yet

I hope that by end of August I will change my Jeans size to smaller one (wish me luck with it)

Check my updated Weight Loss Ticker and try one of my favorite Summer Time soups - Gazpacho Soup (one of summer's pleasures) .

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One week ago...

Why French Women Don't Get Fat. What the secret? Eat real food with a low average glycemic index.

One week ago I began following Mr. Montignac's eating plan and Montignac Recipes and I have discovered a new and wonderful way to eat. I have lost the weight , I'm no longer addicted to sugar and I'm eating plenty.

Here I am at the end of my first week on my "The French Diet" (Montignac method) .

Wow! I've dropped 5+ lbs after just one week .

- I forgot about calorie counting
- I'm eating right kinds of foods without restrictions
- I am enjoying a glass of wine with my meals


Drum Roll Please :o)

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Regulations, Principles and Benefits

Regulations of Montignac method

• Good carbohydrates (low in GI - glycemic index) alone should be consumed; Sugar, refined grains, glucose, potatoes etc should be avoided.

• Fats and carbohydrates should not be mixed in a singe meal, if fat is eaten in a meal you have to wait for four hours before eating carbohydrates and three hours for vice versa.

• Alcohol should be kept at minimal levels, small glass of wine or beer is permitted.

• Plenty of water should be consumed between meals.

• Lots of fiber should be consumed (fruits and vegetables).

• Caffeine intake should be minimized.

• Eat at regular intervals, three meals a day is a must, snacking between meals should be stopped and late evening eating should be stopped.

• Fresh fruit other than strawberry, blueberry (any berries), should not be mixed with meals; fruits can be eaten separately in between meals (good snack substitute).

• Eat healthy fats and use olive oil for baking.

• Be active.

Principles of Montignac method

• The main principle of Montignac method is formulating two eating plans. The first looks at how to lose weight and the second focuses on how to maintain it. First phase is followed for a minimum of two months. The second phase teaches and helps to maintain the body weight after weight loss from the first phase.
  

• This method recommends consuming food with low GI.
  
  
• Does not recommend low calorie diet.
  
  
• Shuns poor eating habits that cause metabolic imbalance.
  
  
• Recommends using good fats and a lot of fiber in the Montignac method.
  
  
• French cuisine is the major inspiration for this diet plan and this diet permits consuming food items like chocolate, cheese etc in limited quantity that is usually not allowed in other diet plans.
  

Benefits of Montignac method

• Consuming food with low GI has numerous health benefits especially for people with diabetes and other diseases.
  
  
• Reduces the risk of developing diabetes and heart problems and other weight related diseases.
  
  
• Permits the dieter to eat food of his choice and does not cut off any food item completely.
  
  
• Over a long period of time this method is very beneficial and brings out the desired results.
  
  
• Dieters do not get bored with this methos schedule as they have a variety to choose from.
  
  
• Method includes a lot of fiber which stimulates weight loss.

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I'm Michel Montignac method follower...

Third day of my "Weight Loss" adventure...

I'm not going to write about results - it's to early, hopefully I'll see some changes by end of the week. I'm following Michel Montignac (Author of "Eat Yourself Slim ") weight loss method. It's not that difficult, as I thought. I'm not hungry and no more"night food hunting" at the kitchen.

I read Michel Montignac books, made online research and spoke with my mom ( she lost 3 cloth sizes 6 years ago following Michel Montignac method and still in good shape)

It's look like I discovered a process that letting me eat mouthwatering foods and savory meals and maintain or even exceed my dieting goals. Sounds to good? Well, I decided to try.

"Montignac Weight Loss method" very popular in Europe was formulated by Michel Montignac.

Food is divided into four categories:

• carbohydrates
  
• lipids including fats and meat
• carbohydrate-lipid including nuts and organ meats
  
• fibers including whole grains and vegetables
  

Carbohydrates with high Glycemic index are termed as bad carbohydrates and this method recommends that these bad carbohydrates should not be consumed with lipids. This combination will encourage excess fat in food to be stored in the body as excess body fat.

On the whole this diet aims at serving as a nutritional concept focusing on people who wish to lose weight efficiently. This method about choosing the right food combination to eat and not in limiting what we eat.

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I've been a YOYO dieter...

I'm 40 years old, 180 lbs (just checked my weight with digital scales ) and want to get down to about 135 lbs.

I have been a YOYO dieter and have been up and down on the scales. The lightest being 125 lbs.

I am going to do it right this time, no crazy diets, All what I need , just a change of life style.

It's just so hard sometimes! Especially when you have a bad day and all what you want - eat, eat and eat again.

I have to remember:

• No More Food for Bad Mood...may be just a fruit. (LOL nice slogan)

• "We don't gain weight because we eat too much, but because we eat poorly" by Michel Montignac (Author of "Eat Yourself Slim ")

• Don't look for big changes withing a week

• Don't skip your meal

Good luck to everyone trying to shred the pounds, we are all in the same boat!

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When it's time to lose weight?

You may have gained a few pounds this year, but is it time to lose weight? How do you know when it's time to lose weight?

When most people making "lose weight " decision they already can no longer perform everyday activities, like climb stairs, walk easily, tie their shoes, or stand on their feet for a considerable amount of time. --> I'm the one

What about your clothes? Is it uncomfortable to wear? Somewhat snug ? Did you start buying bigger sizes, or sweatpants and tee-shirts became your uniform? ---> I'm the one

So now is the time to confront the real problem: too much weight.

I have realized that I'm not the same person any more and I'm no longer happy with myself. I'm avoiding large mirrors,I am depressed, I am ashamed about my body, I hate shopping...

I'VE FINALLY CRACKED!

I'm ready for a change and I want to do it now.

Big day tomorrow...body and weight measurements, organizing myself and more.

Good luck to everyone trying to shred the pounds, we are all in the same boat!


To be continued...

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