Holiday Fun Facts for All of Us Weight Conscious Folks

For starters, every pound of fat adds an extra 200 miles of capillaries for your heart to pump blood through. (Ref: Readers Digest: "Your body and how it works")

You have to carry these extra pounds with you everywhere, and feed them every day, like little pets you have adopted.You feed them whatever they want, whether you wish to or not.You want salad, they want pasta. They get pasta. You want soup and a sandwich, they want a milkshake. They get a milkshake.

Your fat pounds flourish on the foods you really want to avoid. They are parasites that control you in a physiological manner. They control your moods and your appetite. They give you headaches and cravings. Your wallet is constantly being drained by the foods they want .$10 cakes, $9 pies, $8 ice cream, $7 doughnuts, $6 fudge, $5 candy, etc. Will you take a second job to feed these unwelcome guests? Why not abstain? Save your money? Use the savings to buy some smaller clothes? Try strapping on a 20 lb backpack for a few hours. When you take it off you will feel the relief of dropping the dead weight.

Hey guys, it is not entirely our fault that these pounds do not drop off easily. Our internal organs have become used to supporting this extra weight now, and have adjusted accordingly. They have adjusted to this extra weight, and are now functioning in a manner to support it. If the fat cells get cut off too quickly from what they are used to getting, they will send signals to the brain to deliver what they are expecting. That is part of the reason we eat as we do.

So, this diet adjustment has to be done a little bit at a time. Skip the second helping, go walk the dog instead. Skip dessert, and do the dishes immediately. Skip the heaviest thing on the menu. Share a full meal with someone, instead of each having his own platter. If you know you are going to eat some goodies at a holiday meal, or a party, load up on salad, fruit or water first.

Fruit smoothies! Not enough can be said for these guys. A smoothie and a piece of buttered toast for breakfast. A smoothie and a sandwich for lunch. A smoothie before a holiday meal as an appetite deterrent. You can add anything you want without altering the taste much, if you need more substance. Try Granola, raisins, flax weed, vegetables, wheat germ, etc. Use your imagination with different blends.

Susan's Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe for two

Into a blender combine:

1 or 2 bananas

6 oz. lowfat yogurt, orange cr�me

Orange juice to 2 cup line

Blend and enjoy. The beauty is that any flavor of yogurt, fruit, or juice can be used. Protein powders, spinach leaves, wheat germ, eggs, or anything you wish can be added at will.

The smell of good food cooking is a killer, so try a brisk walk just before you eat. Your metabolism speeds up, and when you sit down it is not so geared to over-indulgence. A cup of coffee before a meal also speeds up your metabolism, which curbs your appetite. Walking instead of dessert or seconds is great! Water is great! Juice is great! Veggies are great! Fruit is great!

I hope that anyone serious about his or her diet situation may pick up a clue or two here that may enhance their present efforts. Take it one step at a time, until your confidence returns once again.

Do your heart some good.

Do your back some good.

Do your joints some good.

Do your wallet some good.

Do your wardrobe some good.

Make yourself look better.

Make yourself feel better.

Improve your self-esteem.

Walk with confidence.

Interact with poise.

Ease your aching back.

Walk up those stairs effortlessly.

Accomplish those chores easily.

Sleep soundly and feel rested.

Life itself will be better. Just do it!