Shed Pounds this Winter! Greet the Spring Slimmer!

Yes! You can shed pounds this winter and greet the spring with a slimmer, trimmer body. Don’t worry about the holidays getting in the way. I guarantee that you can lose weight even during the most challenging time of year, Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

Don't worry about the holidays. Just keep tracking!

Don’t worry about the holidays. Just keep tracking!

The most important thing to shedding pounds throughout the winter is simply a strong commitment to monitoring your food and activity.

A commitment to monitoring is not the same as dedicating yourself to deprivation. It’s just knowing that becoming fully aware of what you’re eating and drinking and how much you’re moving are the most effective, proven weight loss strategies – PERIOD! Nothing is more effective.

Monitoring is simple. Get a little notebook and write down everything you eat. Record the portion size and the calories. Make it simple; just write when you bite.

Monitoring physical activity is a little trickier, but to make it as easy as possible any time you sit down pull out your notebook and do your best to recall the activity, the duration, and the intensity and write it down.

In addition to monitoring, there does need to be some consideration paid to overall balance – both calories and nutrients – in your food choices.

In general most of your calories should come from fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Some calories should come from dairy (if you can tolerate lactose, if not, another good source of calcium should be substituted.)

Treats, including foods processed with added sugars and fats should represent the smallest portion of your weekly calorie intake.

That means there could be a day when more (or most of the) calories come from these kinds of foods, but in the course of the week, they are considerably fewer than the nutritionally loaded and lower energy density foods.

You can shed pounds this winter. The only thing that could stand in your way is your own decision not to do it!

You can shed pounds this winter. The only thing that could stand in your way is your own decision not to do it!

To put this plan altogether to get the best results, become a regular participant of a group support environment for accountability, motivation and insight and become a jerk when it comes to your weight-related goals!

 

Jackie Conn

About Jackie Conn

Jackie Conn is married and has four grown daughters and four grandchildren. She is a Weight Watchers success story. She's a weight loss expert with 25 years of experience guiding women and men to their weight-related goals. Her articles on weight management have been published in health, family and women's magazines. She has been a regular guest on Channel 5 WABI news, FOX network morning program Good Day Maine and 207 on WCSH.