Were You Diet Naughty or Diet Nice on Christmas Day?

"I'd cry too if I only got 1 tooth for Christmas."

If you were 'diet nice' on Christmas Day - you deserve an extra present! Getting through the Holiday Hall of Hell isn't easy when you're watching your waistline. So congratulations!

If you were 'diet naughty' .... Excuse me. Yes you. Please get up off the floor and stop bawling. It isn't that bad, really it isn't!

There now, dry up those tears. Just because you were diet naughty isn't reason enough to cry yourself silly because....a new year is just over the horizon - a new era, a new frontier, a land filled with healthy foods, lingering bubblebaths to soothe those tired achy muscles which got that way from spending far too much time on your new exercise bike - the shiny red one that you got for Christmas, and a land filled with healthy recipes and diet support. This is THE year in which you will achieve weight loss success!

As for those extra naughty delicacies that you accidentally consumed during the holidays....well, with a bit of savvy planning, you can perhaps fool those unwanted pounds so that they don't end up on your hips.

Try these following tips for the next week:

- If you live alone, remove all the sweets from your house, except fruit. If you don't live alone, then avoid those sweets for if cannot resist - the cost will be added girth to your hips.

- Walk at least 1 mile every other day for a total of 4 miles over the next week. If you are experiencing extremely cold weather, hit the mall and walk there.

- Try to pattern your eating as outlined below. Drink only no-calorie drinks for the next 7 days; eliminate snaking as well.

Breakfast - 1 serving of hot or cold cereal and 1 piece of fruit. Use skimmed milk if possible and half your normal butter/margarine serving if you are enjoying hot cereal. You'll do even better if you opt for the no calorie refrigerated butter spray. The no calorie sugar is also a very good choice over real sugar this week. (Calorie estimation using recommended low and no-calorie options equals about 250 calories.)

Lunch - 1 sandwich, either hot or cold and 1 piece of fruit. Examples: ham & cheese sandwich, chicken sandwich, tuna sandwich, egg salad sandwich, even 1 small hamburger or small cheeseburger. Do NOT eat fries. (Estimated Calories - 450.) If you are still hungry, toss in a small bag of LAYS 'WOW' Potato Chips or a handful of pretzels.

Dinner - 1 serving of any type of bread PLUS 1 piece of fruit PLUS 1 large bowl of salad that contains lettuce plus any of the following: 1/2 cup of chicken, 1/2 cup of ham, 1 chopped egg, 1 slice of cheese, cucumbers, cabbage, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, squash or mushrooms. Serve with your favorite dressing on the side. Yes, you can add croutons and bacon bits if desired. (Estimated Calories - 500.)

Not only will you feel healthier by the end of the week, you'll also look great at the New Year Eve's party!

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