It’s not long now and, like me, you’re probably putting the final arrangements into place. Are you finding that all those temptations are making it harder to keep your weight loss on track? Are you starting to drift away from your Lifestyle Plan?

It’s all too easy to take your eye off the ball at this time of year, particularly when you are out Christmas shopping. Let’s have a look at how you can shape up and be ready for the festive season.

First of all, semi-starvation won’t help – it’ll just get you down.

Instead of just thinking about losing weight for Christmas, grab your Lifestyle Plan and highlight all your favourites.

Get organised with your menu plan and sort out your shopping.

Have a cooking session and make a selection of your favourite meals then freeze them. You’ll find it so convenient to have a meal ready whenever you need it.

Make up your Slimtone Super Soup too.
Simply simmer a selection of ‘free’ vegetables in a stock cube – you can mix and match your favourite veg, for example carrots, swede, leeks, onions, parsley, celery, bean sprouts….whatever takes your fancy! When the vegetables are cooked, liquidise half of the soup and return to the remaining vegetables, this makes it really thick and far more satisfying. This soup is so quick and easy to make and is ideal as a snack or as a calorie-free starter before a meal. Take it to work in a soup flask to have with your packed lunch and you’ll have a really satisfying meal.

Next think about your portion size. If you guesstimate your portions instead of weighing them then you are NOT following the plan. Just the odd piece of cheese or chocolate or nibbling at the children’s leftovers has calories and they all count.  Remember the Slimtone motto – Little Pickers Wear Bigger Knickers! C’mon now, no messing, no guessing!

Here’s something that lots of our members have to face up to – what I buy I eat! You’ll be able to resist those “Christmas biscuits and chocolates and cakes” much more easily if they are not in the house.  Saying NO at the supermarket is much better than trying to be “strong” at home.  How many of us have had to replace “goodies” that we have sneaked out of the Christmas stock?  Leave buying them until the last minute – there’s always plenty in the shops, you know, they’re not going to sell out!

Make a list of everything you still had leftover when you put the decorations away last Christmas – now delete them off your shopping list for this year!

Keep yourself busy. A lot of eating and drinking is done to relieve boredom. Make sure you always have something to do – have a good book to read, a jigsaw to do, or knitting or writing your Christmas cards, anything that will keep you busy.

Exercise is important, so fit in as much as you can. It doesn’t have to be anything too strenuous, walking is great exercise. Look at stairs in a new light; they are a BIG calorie-burner. Did you know that every time you walk up a flight of stairs you burn off around 11 calories per minute!

Why not put an exercise DVD or WiiFit on your Christmas list? Check out the classes locally or online for Zumba, Pilates or maybe hula-hooping! Combine exercise with your new healthy eating plan and you’ll soon be surprised at how fit you’re feeling.

Keep these Slimtone tips in mind and give yourself the gift of a slimmer, healthier new you for Christmas – it really is the very best gift around, for you and your loved ones.

Have a happy Christmas,
Marie x