FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

This year, “losing weight” may not have
to be your number one resolution
Here are some easy-to-follow tips for keeping the
pounds off this winter despite hectic schedules and tempting treats

Even if “losing weight” has been your New Year’s resolution for more years than you can remember, you may have to find a new goal for this new year. There are some easy techniques to prevent those holiday pounds from piling on. And you may find these tips so easy to incorporate into your daily life that weight management will become a no-brainer.

“Cold weather causes us to hibernate indoors. We are less active and we also spend more time socializing and eating,” says Sherry Torkos, well-known pharmacist, fitness instructor and author of Breaking the Age Barrier and Winning at Weight Loss. “It’s no wonder that the holiday season can be challenging for those looking to maintain or lose weight. The average person gains approximately two to seven pounds during the winter months.”

Torkos adds that holiday dinner parties and social events create opportunities for overindulging. “The holiday season also can be stressful,” she says, “and stress can fuel overeating and food cravings.” 

Torkos has devised a three-step plan for preventing the pounds from piling on over the holidays: 

• Trim the fat from your next holiday meal

• Have a full glass of water before your meal
• Eat slowly – give your belly a chance to send the message to your brain that you are full
• Start with a salad – low calorie and nutrient dense
• Choose sweet potatoes over mashed potatoes because they are higher in fiber and lower in the glycemic index
• Fill up on greens (beans, broccoli, asparagus) because these foods are high in nutrients and low in calories
• Go easy on the dinner rolls and stuffing – high in glycemic index and calories
• Minimize adding butter and gravy – both contain lots of calories from fat
• Choose apple pie (227 calories) over pecan pie (650 calories); avoid the whip cream (40 calories/tbsp) and go for frozen yogurt or soy dream
• Drink green tea after dinner instead of coffee (green tea aids digestion and boosts metabolism plus it is calorie-free)

• Add these top supplements to help prevent winter weight gain

• Fiber – through food or supplements – helps to keep us feeling full so we are less likely to overeat; also stabilizes blood sugar levels which is important for both emotional and physical well-being

• Starch Neutralizer – an extract of the white bean that may reduce the digestion of starches (foods high in starches include bread, potatoes, rice, and pasta); take 20 minutes before high starch meals
• Green tea – boosts metabolism and aids digestion; good source of antioxidants; a great substitute for coffee

3. Stay active even when you are pressed for time and don’t want to spend money at the gym
·       Do a 10 minute power walk outdoors, or 10 minute marching or stair climbing indoors

• Follow with 20 leg lunges, 20 push-ups, 20 squats and then repeat this sequence twice (15 minutes). These exercises work multiple muscle groups so that you are getting the most out of your time, plus they don’t require specialized equipments because you are using your own body weight as resistance
• Spend five minutes stretching (top to bottom) – this will also ease the holiday stress and tension which accumulates in our muscles

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More about Sherry Torkos: Sherry Torkos, BSc, Phm, is a nationally recognized pharmacist, author and lecturer. She has written several health booklets including Winning at Weight Loss and The Benefits of Berries, as well as articles for numerous publications, and is the author of Breaking the Age Barrier. Sherry is a certified fitness instructor and health enthusiast who enjoys sharing her passions with others. As a health expert, Sherry is interviewed frequently on radio and appears regularly on TV. She is highly respected for her knowledge, integrity and dynamic personality as well as her ability to discuss complex health matters in straightforward terms. She lives and practices holistic pharmacy in the Niagara region of Ontario.