Holiday Diet-Survival Tips
by CookingLow-Fat.com
We recently polled our readers on how they plan to survive the holidays without putting on the extra pounds, and here is a copy of the newsletter we compiled with the survey results...
Holiday Reader Survey Results are In!
I'm so PROUD of all of you for sharing your holiday health tips with us,
thank you so much for participating in our Reader Survey! Listed below are
all the wonderful suggestions a few of our readers (about 30!) have sent in for
getting through the holidays without gaining 5-7 pounds, or worse! The
survey is now closed, just read and be encouraged... we CAN and WILL get through
the coming holidays without gaining even one ounce!!
See you next week, with a new low-fat recipe!
Blessings always,
Michelle
CookingLow-Fat.com
http://cookinglow-fat.com
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This is how I am going to get through the holidays without gaining 7-10 lbs.
1. I am going to try to eat small portions.
2. Eat a balanced diet.
3. Eat lots of fruit.
4. Cut back on sugar products.
5. Get plenty of exercise.
6. Drink plenty of water.
Have a Happy Holiday!!!!
Edith
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I will watch for low-fat foods, watch portions sizes and try and continue with
my daily walking, weather permitting.
Bonnie
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Since I am a Weight Watcher member, we had a short meeting on what we were going
to have, and then she told us how many points each item would be. We were
passed a basket with the items written down in it, and you could take the
turkey, ham or both, potatoes, etc... Then she had the points on a sheet
and we totaled our meal up. Mine as 11 points, the least of anyone. I just
hope I can do it. I plan on having turkey, lots of raw fresh veggies, and
I will have a can of green beans just for me. I will fix the pumpkin
pudding with fat-free cool whip (recipe below), and maybe either a roll or fruit
salad. I do not wish to gain, as it's so hard to lose. Why blow one
day. And on the weekend, don't eat what's there, just portion it out.
I will also have lots of veggies, and lots of coffee or International French
Vanilla Fat and Sugar Free coffee.
Pumpkin Pudding
3 points
4 servings
One box of vanilla, instant sugar free pudding
2 cups of skim milk.
2 tsp of Pumpkin pie spice
1 can of pumpkin 15oz
Stir together and divide into 4 servings.
Top with Free cool whip. Chill and eat.
Mmmm, this is just wonderful and doesn't need a crust.
Julie in KS
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Actually, I REALLY am going to only eat half portions. I will fill my
plate as usual...then turn around and cut them in half.........it is the only
thing that makes sense for me and I am sincerely going to try it!
Claire
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How I keep from gaining pounds is to not eat more during the holiday season,
except on Christmas day.
Rory
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I am going to REALLY pay attention to everything I eat and not rationalize the
excesses.
a Reader
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1. Plan ahead
2. Make Low fat appropriate foods for
myself so I don't feel deprived.
3. Enlist a buddy for support BEFORE DURING AND AFTER EACH FOOD
ENCOUNTER!!!!
4. Keep hands busy around small pick food. (Keep a glass of lemon water or
flavored no=cal seltzer in one hand with a napkin in the other.)
5. If at a buffet, circulate away from table, fill plate with veggies and just
two small fork fulls of one favorite dish.
6. Enjoy the company BUT eat mindfully!
7. If at someone else's house, offer to help hostess to keep busy and not
tempted to pick or overeat.
8. Wear pants with a fitted not elastic waist band and keep the button and
zipper Closed to help gauge when eating too much.
9. Keep visualizing yourself at the scale losing weight. A smile on your
face and a happy song in your heart. (do this each time you reach for food that
is not appropriate and see your hand pull away)
10. THIN IS MORE BEAUTIFUL AND FULFILLING THAN ANY FOOD AND IF IT'S MEANT TO BE
IT IS UP TO ME!!!!!
Happy holidays and here's to a slimmer you in 2003
eeejay, Florida
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Cut out butter, whole milk, use low fat versions for dessert and for mashed
potatoes. Use low fat cream cheese and no fat cool whip for chocolate cream
cheese pie. Make meat a day ahead so liquids from cooking can sit a day so all
fat can be taken off before making gravy. That's the basics!!
Debbie
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Not to gain weight during the holidays means I will walk more so that I am
exercising. Not to gain weight, means I will cook and choose the foods
that are healthy and prepared in a healthy, low-fat way.
Ellen
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I do a lot of holiday entertaining and my family does not like to eat low fat
foods. I have learned, in the past, to simplify my intake of fatty foods. I stay
away from the rich fatty desserts and stick to the fruit salads, salads (I bring
my own dressing), and meat platters. There is always plenty of turkey at our
family gatherings. I also wanted to add that I enjoy the recipes from your web
site very much. I have incorporated a lot of them into my family's daily menu
and they don't know the difference unless I tell them!
Cheryl
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How am I planning to stay slim over the holidays - to deliberately plan some
exercise into to my holiday schedule - stuff that I enjoy like tennis and
swimming since I have the free time as well - why not take advantage of it
therefore I can afford to eat those extra calories, in fact I will need them.
a Reader
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One way I plan on reducing calories and fat is to make my pumpkin pie recipe
with no-fat evaporated milk. I follow the recipe on the back of Libby's
canned solid pumpkin and am substituting no-fat evaporated milk and egg whites
instead of whole eggs. I have just recently lost 57 lbs. and do not want
to gain any weight back so this is really important to me.
a Reader
(Editor's note: If you use the condensed milk it's also available in fat-free,
but the evap. milk is healthier... no comment as to which one I like to use. ;o)
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I hold a tree trimming party each year and this year the menu is going to
consist of all low fat recipes. One recipe calls for spinach dip. Below is
the recipe:
1 envelope Lipton Vegetable Dip
8 ounces sour cream (substitute no-fat sour cream)
1 cup mayonnaise (substitute no-fate mayo)
1-10 oz. package of frozen spinach
Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for several hours. It's delicious
and there's no fat. I put with it pretzels (no fat), Wow Dorito's (1 gram
of fat per serving) or low fat crackers such as Snackwell's wheat crackers.
As far as the rest of the menu, I haven't decided yet but have been checking out
recipes and will substitute low-fat or no-fat items for regular items. If
a recipe calls for cheese, I substitute it with tofu
cheese. If it calls for butter, I either use lite butter or Butter Buds.
I make cream sauces with Butter Buds.
Hope this helps!
Pat from Elmwood Park, NJ
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I joined Weight Watchers recently and one suggestion given at our meeting was to
make sure that you can see your plate around each item of food. That will
keep you from eating too much. And, eat slowly, so that you can taste your
food. Many times we eat so quickly we don't taste it and we're fuller than
we would have been. Another idea was to indulge in one or two food items
that we love and skimp on the others. I love sweet potato casserole, so
I'm going to eat that as I normally would but I'm only going to have small
portions of everything else.
Dena from Tulsa, OK
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I plan to make a variety of heart healthy appetizers.
Kathy
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Since i have been following Weight Watchers since Feb., and only have 3 pounds
until goal. I really plan on eating lots of veggies, drink water, and before
going to a party that will most probably not be weight watcher friendly, I will
eat a big salad or veggie soup before going so I am not tempted by all the high
fat things that are around. Also, opt to bring a dish that you can eat so there
is something you can feast on!
Harriett from Willow Grove, Pa.
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I exercise almost daily, but, over Christmas break there is no school & with
the kids home I found I never made it to the gym. On top of that I tend to eat
more -- at parties, treats we make for the season,etc... This year I am going to
make sure I continue exercising. I dropped my gym membership & I've been
running at home. I intend to continue that. And I AM going to try to eat less of
the sweets.
Angee
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l. I am going to make a lot more veggies with my meals. 2. I am going to make my
stuffing with light bread, chicken broth, egg beaters and bake it outside
turkey. 3. I am trying a new recipe-crustless pumpkin pie 4. I am NOT going to
bake cookies or anything fattening. Out of sight, out of mind!
Ruth from Mountville, Pa.
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I am going to make sure I drink plenty of water during the holiday season. Also,
I will try not to hang around the counter when all the food is being prepared or
when snacks are out.
a Reader
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This holiday season I will certain try to cook everything as low-fat as
possible, with the leftovers I will look at the many menus I have stored on my
computer to again be aware of the lowest fat type menu. Would be nice to receive
by your email some suggestions that you have. What products to substitute for
butter gravy etc would also help.
a Reader
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I plan not to gain any pounds during the holidays by continuing to follow the
Dr. Adkins program. I have Lupus and Fibromyalgia and was advised to
change my eating habits, to lose thirty pounds and exercise daily. It took
me seven months to lose the weight and have not gain a pound. I keep track
of my carbs, fats and calories And have never felt better in my life. In
fact I no longer have to be on steroids for my diseases. I started this
program on October of last year and reached my weight goal on May of this year.
I enjoy cooking and eating but now I do it in a healthier way. I modify
the recipes to fit my program. Again Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
Fran
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This is the first time I have had to watch what I eat, so I hope my plan works.
I am going to eat turkey, some vegetables, a salad, and drink LOTS of water and
green tea! Drinking lots of water usually fills me up so I'm not as
hungry. Good Luck to everyone on sticking to their plans! Happy
Holidays!
a Reader
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I have a secret weapon, before I put anything in my mouth I think were it
will go one inside! On the hips? Seriously, I am very
cognizant of what I eat, visualizing watching my grandchildren grow, I already
have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, am about 20 pounds overweight at
56. I try to cook low fat, low cholesterol. I am also going to join an all
women's gym and walk, walk, walk on the treadmill to help with maintenance.
I really appreciate your emails and recipes. Keep up the good work.
Marcia from Phoenix, AZ
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I plan on serving only "legal" recipes. WW had a recipe for dressing
that was only 2 pts a serving. Make mashed potatoes with chicken broth instead
of milk. Use splenda on your sweet potatoes with mini marshmallows. Grind your
own cranberries and use orange rind, juice and sweetener. Its great! Finally WW
has a recipe for pumpkin pie using phylo dough for the crust, sweetener and egg
sub and top it off with Free cool whip. My family won't know what hit
them...it won't be the calories. Happy Thanks giving to all.
Pat F
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I joined weight watchers 2 months ago & have lost 18# so far. No way
do I want to be a plus size again. Meetings are discipline. You get
weighed once a week. If u know you'll be weighed that helps u think more
before u eat. Drink lots of water. Wear those fitting jeans to make
sure they're not getting tight. If u eat too much one day, there's always
tomorrow to try again. If u want to maintain or lose bad enough, you will
succeed. You're worth it.
Barb from Chicago, IL
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We eat every thing but do not eat a lot of it. Maybe a tablespoon of the rich
foods and eat more of the veggie dishes and I also do make almost all the low
calorie dishes I can find. There is even low-fat Eagle Brand to make any candies
and cheesecakes plus fresh fruit salads are great. Splenda sugar brand is our
most favorite to use.
a Reader
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I will use Xylitol, all natural sweetener, and powdered stevia to make desserts
for the holidays. Both perform well in cooking but require a little trial
and error to perfect. I order the Xylitol from smartsweet.com and purchase
stevia at my local health food store in bulk form. They can be used
together or separately in recipes. Both products are actually considered
"good" for diabetics, although that is not my reason for using
them.
Carolyn
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Copyright 2002 by CookingLow-Fat.com