How to Avoid the Gift of Holiday Weight Gain.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 10, 2004 -- Its hard to believe that a year has nearly past and the holidays are just around the corner. Since the holidays are close at hand, I am here to offer you some sound advice that will certainly make a difference. Here are a few tips to get you through the holidays without having to deal with the weight gain and disappointment that follows:
How to Avoid the Gift of Holiday Weight Gain.
1. Do not try to lose weight during the holidays. Simply staying the same weight will be a great accomplishment.
2. Expect the holidays to be a challenge. The Holidays are filled with opportunities to break your diet and gain weight. Sometimes this will create tremendous pressure on you. Prepare for it and you will win.
3. Get support for eating properly. Find a support partner and speak with them daily. This really makes a difference. If you resist this suggestion, then you will probably gain Holiday weight. Weight loss is best done with the help of a support system, particularly during a stressful time. If you attempt to go it alone, you may fail.
4. Pay attention to emotional family issues. Holidays usually mean time with family, and this means that any unresolved family issues will emerge and create strong emotions in you. You may self-medicate with food to get through these emotions thus resulting in weight gain. If you identify these issues prior to family gatherings, you will be better prepared to manage the feelings they generate.
Almost all overeating is related to intense emotions. This is particularly true about holiday eating. Holidays bring up feelings of loneliness, family conflict, past hurts and resentments, anger and many other painful emotions. If we combine these stressors with an abundance of comfort food, then we have the perfect weight gaining situation.
If you identify these stressors, you can make productive decisions about how to manage them. If you simply walk into family gatherings unaware of the emotional pitfalls, you can count on having your diet fall apart.
Everyone has family issues that are intense and unresolved. Dont think you are a happy exception if you are weight challenged. A dose of self-reflection and inner honesty will go a long way towards helping you stay on your diet during the coming season.
5. Let family members know that you are working hard to lose weight and that you want their support. Ask them to resist the urge to tempt you to eat food that will throw you off and to provide alternative foods for you.
I really cant stress enough the importance of a support partner. Get one and then use them for encouragement and strength to do what needs to be done. You dont need to handle family issues alone.
We have found that the more dysfunctional the family, the more support you will need to deal with them. If you choose to walk this path alone, you may quickly find that you are lost in food.
I the spirit of the upcoming Holiday Season we would like to give a few low carb recipes that will help you through this weight challenging time of the year.
Sausage Stuffing
Carbs Per Serving: 6g
Skill Level: Easy
Ingredients:
1 Pound Sausage -- Seasoned
2 Large Onions -- Finely Chopped
3 Stalks Celery -- Finely Chopped (3 To 4)
2 Tbs. Butter
2 Tbs. Olive Oil
1 Head Cabbage – Finely Chopped
15 Ounces Chicken Broth -- Canned
3 Eggs -- Beaten
Seasonings
Instructions:
This has all the taste of real stuffing, without the bread. You won't miss the bread and can "stuff" yourself as much as you like.
Sauté your onion and celery in the butter.
Add sausage, brown, crumbling the sausage finely.
Let the oils and butter brown on the bottom of the pan to get that great combination flavor.
Add seasonings you like such as thyme, oregano, pepper, salt, to taste. If your sausage was pre-seasoned you can just add a little black pepper.
Add cabbage and continue cooking.
Add chicken broth to moisten as dish starts to get dry.
Put in a 3-4 qt baking dish and add the eggs.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes.
Cranberry Relish
Carbs Per Serving: 4g
Skill Level: Easy
Ingredients:
1 Cup Dark Rum
1 Tsp. Lemon Rind – Grated
4 Cups Cranberries – Raw Fresh or Frozen
¾ Cup Steviva Blend
¾ Cup Walnuts – Chopped, Pecans or Almonds
Instructions:
Put Steviva Blend and rum in saucepan, heat to boiling.
Add cranberries and lemon zest, bring back to boil and immediately lower heat so the mixture is on a low, rolling boil, just above a simmer.
Cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add chopped nuts, mixing in thoroughly.
Let cook 1-2 min, then remove from heat, cover and let cool completely.
The rum and lemon zest adds tremendous richness complexity to the sauce. But, if you want to forego the rum, just substitute an equal amount of water.
Candied Yams
Carbs Per Serving: 7g
Skill Level: Easy
Ingredients:
6 sweet potatoes
½ cup butter
2 tbs. Molasses
1 cup Steviva Blend
2 tbs. vanilla extract
¼ cup water
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°. Boil potatoes in skins until about half done.
Drain water from potatoes, remove skins, & cut in lengthwise slices.
Place slices in a greased baking dish & dot with butter.
Make a syrup by boiling together Steviva Blend, molasses, water, & vanilla.
Pour over potato slices.
Bake 45-50 minutes, basting frequently with syrup.
Cook until potatoes are transparent.
Instead of Pumpkin Pie you can substitute these awesome Pumpkin Squares. They are a great after diner treat that wont weigh you down.
Pumpkin Squares
Carbs Per Serving: 7g
Skill Level: Easy
Ingredients:
1 Cup Low Carb Bake Mix
1 Tsp. Baking Powder
1 Cup Steviva Blend
½ Tsp. Baking Soda
2 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
½Tsp. Ground Ginger
1 Tsp. Ground Cloves
¼ Cup Chopped Nuts(Optional)
1/2 Vegetable Oil
1 Cup Canned Pumpkin
2 Large Eggs
Cream Cheese Topping:
4 Oz. Softened Cream Cheese
½ Tsp. Vanilla Flavoring
2 Tbs. Steviva Blend Or A Tiny Dash Of Stevia Powder
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix eggs, oil and sugar together well.
Add pumpkin and stir again.
Add remaining ingredients and blend for about 1 minute.
Pour into a lightly sprayed and dusted 9" x 9" square pan.
Bake for 22 –25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Allow to cool completely!
For the optional topping, mix cream cheese, Steviva Blend or a tiny dash of Stevia Powder, and vanilla.
Spread onto cooled cake.
Cut into 16 squares.
Eat well and have a happy holiday season!
Stephanie Rosen is the Marketing Director for Steviva Brands, Inc. Steviva, Inc., is one of the largest importers, manufactures and exporters of all natural stevia.
Steviva is processed from the herbal plant Stevia Rebaudiana". When refined into a white powder extract (stevioside), it becomes 200-300 times sweeter than sugar creating an intense effect upon the taste buds without raising blood sugar levels and contains no carbs or calories. Research indicates that both diabetics and persons suffering from hypoglycemia may use Stevia.
You can find these recipes and others by visiting http://www.steviva.com.
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