Christmas Weight Loss - 7 Day Diet For The Party Season!

It's Christmas party season again but can you still squeeze into your favorite little black party dress?

Weight loss for Christmas in 7 days! Is that possible? Yes it is. And you don't have to go on a starvation diet, dose yourself with slimming pills or drink some exotic berry juice to do so. There is a healthy way to lose 5lbs in 7 days.

There are two things you need to know. Most weight loss in the first 7 days of any diet is mainly water. In fact about 60% water. However, reducing excess water in your body can be enough to make your clothes fit you better, which is what you are after right now. Secondly, you don't want to make yourself ill for the Christmas season by crash dieting. A healthy approach to weight loss can easily help you feel less bloated and also give your skin more of a party glow!

Being a Nutritional Therapist I don't usually advise people to follow 'weight loss diets', which may surprise you. But being on a diet for any length of time is difficult to stick to. Your immediate goal is to find a way for your clothes to feel less tight. The short-term approach has to be different. So here are my 7 day Christmas diet tips to help you:

When is The Best Time to Eat?

A major hurdle to weight loss is skipping meals, especially breakfast. This can cause low blood sugar levels which lead to food cravings and binge eating later in the day. Aim to eat 3 small meals and 2 healthy snacks a day. Ideally eat your biggest meal at lunchtime when your body burns calories most efficiently. Avoid a heavy meal late in the evening (that is how Sumo wrestlers ensure their weight gain). And late-night snacking is a definite no-no!

Vegetables and Fruits Fill You Up

Eat a rainbow diet of different colored fruits and vegetables. The emphasis should be on vegetables for meals and fresh fruit for snacks. Eating a handful of fresh sunflower or pumpkin seeds with a piece of fresh fruit will help to minimize blood sugar fluctuations. The protein and essential fats in the seeds will help slow the release of fruit sugars and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

How Much Water for Weight Loss?

Yes, I know you are trying to lose water from the body, but it is still important to consume sufficient water to hydrate the body. Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Fill a large bottle or jug with water so you can see how much you are drinking throughout the day. Water will fill you up and help reduce food cravings, flush out toxins and give your skin a healthier glow.

Increase your Fiber with Whole foods

Whole foods like brown rice, oatcakes and rye bread contain complex carbohydrate and fiber, as do vegetables, salads and fruit, which fills you up and reduce the amount of calories you consume. If you are new to whole foods, just start with a few oatcakes or rye bread as a snack. It is best to avoid wheat bread if you can because it can make you feel bloated.

How Fat Can Be Your Best Friend!

There are good fats and bad fats. The good fats can help you actually break down body fat instead of storing it. Essential fats can also help reduce pre-menstrual bloating. The bad fats in fried foods, low-fat spreads and hydrogenated vegetable oils in many processed foods should be avoided as much as possible. You can use olive oil for cooking and butter for spreading. Essential fats like flax seed oil are great in salad dressing.

The Salt in Processed Foods

Processed foods and snacks often contain excess salt. Cut down on these foods to help lose the excess water stored in your body.

Food-combining Can Reduce Bloating

One way to help reduce bloating is by paying attention to the combination of foods you eat, by eating starchy foods (grains, potatoes, bread and flour) at a separate meal from the protein foods (meat, fish, dairy, eggs).

Dance and Be Merry!

You don't have to be a gym bunny to lose weight. You can burn up an extra 240 calories each day just by being more active in your daily routine. Walking, stretching and trying out your dance moves will get you in the party mood.

When you have squeezed into your party frock, then it's time to forget the diet and have a merry Christmas. Then I'll see you in the New Year with some great new tips to get you slim and healthy for the rest of 2010!