09 Nov 5 Tips to Lose Weight this Holiday Season!

The average weight gain over the holidays is about 5 pounds. The “holidays” start earlier and earlier so we over indulge for longer periods of time. People often ask me, what do I eat over the holidays to maintain my weight?

Well…today I am sharing my secrets! Here are my top 5 tips to maintain and…gasp! Even lose weight over the holidays.

Disclaimer: Deborah Enos is a Paid Sponsor.

TIP #1: I start each day drinking my famous Lean Green Smoothie. Here’s the deal, this is a giant salad in a glass. This ensures that even if I over indulge later in the day that I have had a very good dose of veggies, a little fruit & a big hit of nutrients.

Here’s what’s in it:

Ingredients:

1 handful of spinach

1/2 lemon, peeled

1 inch piece of fresh ginger

1/3 cucumber

1/2 celery stalk

1 small handful of cilantro

1 small handful of parsley

1 cup of water, or more

Serving of protein powder (pick a protein powder without fake sweeteners such as Splenda or aspartame)

Optional fruit (I used an Apple)

1 packet of Oxylent

1 tablespoon of Barleans Flaxseed oil (vegan formula)

For instructions and EXACTLY WHY I use these specific ingredients, please click the link below.

https://www.deborahenos.com/2014/03/serious-green-smoothie-recipe/

TIP #2: Sunday night food prep is the key to holiday weight loss: Veggies take time and energy to prep-especially after work! So, I do all of my veggie prep on Sunday night and I can honestly say this saves me at least an hour or two after work and probably saves me 200 “naughty” calories per day. What is a “naughty” calorie? It’s the calories I consume when I’m tired hungry and grumpy (yes I get grumpy) and I walk in the door after a long day and I grab a block of cheese, four slices of salami and a big glass of wine. 200 calories X 5 days a week is 1,000 calories a week saved. Three weeks of grabbing veggies after work and I have lost a pound of fat.

Here’s my recipe:

I clean and chop my veggies, add a drizzle of avocado oil and roast in my oven at about 425 for 15-20 minutes. Make sure you add your most dense veggies in the pyrex first (I usually start with cauliflower) after ten minutes I pull the pan out and add some of my less dense veggies such as asparagus.

TIP #3: So Delicious: There are so many products I love from this line. They do a terrific job of creating some amazing holiday goodies that are normally what I would consider a sugar & fat bombs-specifically, Egg Nog and Mint Hot Chocolate.

I really try to keep an eye on sugar all year but especially around the holidays. But I also think it’s important to have a couple of holiday “goodies” that you look forward to enjoying (on a limited basis of course). These two products fit the bill. Not only do they taste great, they are also Non-GMO, vegan and BONUS, both of these items are lower in sugar than their evil cousins, haha.

TIP #4: Plan to move! Many health professionals are now saying the sitting is as dangerous to your health as smoking. I can tell you that if you don’t plan on exercise it just won’t happen. Keep your goals simple, walk the dog, take the stairs or play with your kids more.

Key Point: Here’s what works for me, before bed, I lay out my exercise clothes and I know exactly how much time I have to workout. I also have rainy day plan. I normally like to jog/walk my dog in the morning before work, but if it’s raining I just don’t want to re-do my hair (I know, big problem). So I know that if it’s raining I will be stretching doing abs and maybe some push ups and the walk will have to wait for later.

TIP #5: Bribe Yourself! Instead of that novelty donut maker or big ol’ fryer, give yourself (and ask for) gifts that encourage healthy habits. New running shoes, a Vitamix so you can try my Lean Green Smoothie (: or workout clothes can be just the motivation you need to stick to your exercise routine. Better yet, reward good behavior with something you really want. Set goals for yourself and have a gift lined up when you reach them. Let’s face it, we’re all more diligent when there’s an incentive involved.