COTTAGE CHEESE DIET

(Lose up to 3 Pounds in 2 Days)

This program is very simple and will give great results while
giving you a general feeling of well being. This diet is designed to
be done for 2 days and 2 days only. If you need to repeat this
diet, you should eat normally for 2-3 days before restarting it.

THE DIET

Breakfast:

4 oz cottage cheese
1 grapefruit
1 cup of herbal or lemon tea

Mid Morning:

1 cup of herbal or lemon tea

Lunch:

4 oz cottage cheese
1 large slice of melon
1 cup of herbal or lemon tea

Mid Afternoon:

1 cup of herbal or lemon tea

Dinner:

4 oz cottage cheese
1 grapefruit
1 cup of herbal or lemon tea

REPEAT THIS DIET FOR 1 MORE DAY.

2 DAY QUICKIE DIET

(Lose up to 6 Pounds in 2 Days)

This is a 2-day diet plan. If you follow it correctly, you can lose
from 3 to 6 pounds in 2 days. This diet plan consists of about
1,100 calories per day. To supplement this diet and increase the
slimming benefits, you should take one 75 mg of vitamin C and
1,000 mg of calcium supplements each day. If you need to lose
more weight, you can follow this plan for up to 2 weeks, then
return to your normal diet.

DAILY MENU

Breakfast

4 egg whites, cooked as desired. You can add some green, yellow
and/or red bell peppers and mushrooms if desired
2/3 cup of oatmeal
16-oz cup of black coffee

Early Lunch

3.5-oz can of tuna (mixed with 1-2 tbs of mustard or fat-free
vinaigrette, if desired)
Any amount of any green veggies, such as spinach, broccoli or
asparagus
Tall glass of water

Late Lunch

3.5-oz can of tuna (mixed with 1-2 tbs of mustard or fat-free
vinaigrette, if desired)
Any amount of any green veggies, such as spinach, broccoli or
asparagus
Tall glass of water

Early Dinner

Half a chicken breast marinated in 1 tbs fat-free or low-cal Italian
dressing and cooked as desired
2/3 cup of brown rice or spinach pasta
Any amount of any green veggies, such as spinach, broccoli or
asparagus
Tall glass of water

Late Dinner

Chicken Salad: half a chicken breast cooked as desired and cut into
pieces, tossed over romaine and spinach and mixed with
cucumbers, broccoli and 2 tablespoons of fat-free or low-cal
dressing
2/3 cup of brown rice or spinach pasta
Tall glass of water

REPEAT THIS DIET FOR 1 MORE DAY.

TEA AND AVOCADO DIET

(Lose up to 3 Pounds in 2 Days)

Avocado contains 11 vitamins and 17 minerals and is only 132
calories for half an avocado, plus they taste good. This diet is
designed to be done for 2 days and 2 days only. If you need to
repeat this diet, you should eat normally for 2 days before
restarting.

THE DIET

Breakfast:

1/2 avocado cut lengthwise with the stone removed (leave in
shell). Fill with 2 tablespoons cottage cheese. Add a squeeze of
lemon for flavor.
Plus 1 cup of herbal or lemon tea

Mid Morning:

1 cup of herbal or lemon tea (no sugar – artificial sweetener
okay.

Lunch:

Avocado Salad: Take 1/2 of an avocado cut lengthwise, remove
the fruit from the shell and cut it into thin slices. Arrange on a
plate with 1 hard boiled egg cut into thin slices, 4 halves of fresh
peaches or apricots (you can use canned packed in natural juices
if fresh are not available, drain all juices), then add a few slices of
cucumber. Squeeze the juice of 1 whole lemon over the salad.
Plus 1 cup of herbal or lemon tea (no sugar – artificial sweetener
okay.

Mid Afternoon:

1 cup of herbal or lemon tea (no sugar – artificial sweetener
okay.

Dinner:

3 oz of one of the following: chicken–hot or cold; beef; lamb;
tuna fish (packed in water); crab meat
Serve with 2 tablespoons cooked carrots, drained and tossed in
the juice of 1 lemon and a little salt and pepper. Sprinkle with
chopped parsley.

Bedtime Snack:

1/2 avocado cut into thin slices and served with a sauce made
from 1/2 small carton of yogurt and 1 teaspoon honey mixed
together well.

Plus 1 cup of herbal or lemon tea

REPEAT THIS DIET FOR 1 MORE DAY

NO MEAT DIET

(Lose up to 4 Pounds in 2 Days)

This diet is for those who feel they can stick to a rigid plan. You
can only eat what is on the diet and nothing else for it to work. If
you can stick to this diet for 2 days, you will be pleased with the
results. It is designed to be done for 2 days and 2 days only. If
you need to repeat this diet, you should eat normally for 2 days
before restarting it.

THE DIET

Breakfast:

Corn Flakes or Bran flakes with skim milk
Low calorie orange or lemon drink
Morning Snack:
1 apple

Lunch:

Small portion of roasted nuts or protein substitute such as soy or
tofu.
All the vegetables you want, but no potatoes
Stewed apples with no sugar
1 glass of any low calorie drink (non-fizzy kind)
Afternoon Snack:
1 boiled egg
2 oz cheese
1 slice whole grain bread

Dinner:

1 orange
Cup of low calorie chocolate drink made with skim milk

REPEAT THIS DIET FOR 1 MORE DAY

SUPER FRUIT DIET

(Lose up to 3 Pounds in 2 Days)

This is a very simple diet that will give you great results in 2
days. It is a very refreshing and delicious diet to follow filling
your body with delicious fruits and juices for cleansing. This diet
is designed to be done for 2 days and 2 days only. If you need to
repeat this diet, you should eat normally for 2 days before
restarting it.

THE DIET

For one day you will need the following items:

5 oranges
5 grapefruits
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup of fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely chopped mint and parsley mixed together
4 chopped walnuts

Directions:

Peel and segment the fruit and put into large bowl.
Mix honey and lemon together and pour over fruit.
Add chopped parsley and mint and sprinkle with walnuts.

Breakfast:

1 glass of herbal tea with lemon, no sugar
1 portion of fruit salad

Mid Morning:

8 oz glass of fresh orange juice and grapefruit juice mixed
together in equal portions.

Lunch:

1 glass of herbal tea with lemon, no sugar
1 portion of fruit salad

Late Afternoon:

8 oz glass of fresh orange juice and grapefruit juice mixed
together in equal portions.

Dinner:

1 glass of herbal tea with lemon, no sugar
1 portion of fruit salad

REPEAT THIS DIET FOR 1 MORE DAY.

YOGURT DIET

(Lose up to 6 Pounds in 2 Days)

Yogurt is a very simple, but complete food that has excellent
soothing and healing qualities. It is also easy on the digestive
system and good for those who are lactose intolerant. This diet
is designed to be done for 2 days and 2 days only. If you need to
repeat this diet, you should eat normally for 2 days before
restarting it.

THE DIET

Breakfast:

1 small carton of natural yogurt
1 teaspoon wheat germ (health food store)
1 teaspoon fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon honey
Mix all ingredients together well and it is ready to eat.
You can have 1 glass of herbal tea, no sugar (artificial sweetener
is okay).

Lunch:

Fresh herb and nut yogurt made as follows:
Empty 1 small carton of natural yogurt into a bowl.
Add 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon honey, 1
teaspoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley, 1
tablespoon freshly chopped mint and 1 tablespoon crushed
peanuts or walnuts.
Mix together well and eat
You can 1 glass of herbal tea, no sugar (artificial sweetener is
okay).

Dinner:

Savory yogurt made as follows:
Empty 1 small carton of natural yogurt into a bowl.
Add 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoons chicken or
vegetable broth, 1 small tomato finely chopped, 1 stick of celery
finely chopped, and 1 spring onion finely chopped
Mix together well and eat
You can 1 glass of herbal tea, no sugar (artificial sweetener is
okay).

REPEAT THIS DIET FOR 1 MORE DAY.

FRUIT AND YOGURT DIET

(Lose up to 5 Pounds in 2 Days)

If you love berries and yogurt, then this diet will be a treat for
you. It is a very refreshing diet that is easy to follow and will
give great results in 2 days. This diet is designed to be done for 2
days and 2 days only. If you need to repeat this diet, you should
eat normally for 2 days before restarting it.

THE DIET

Breakfast:

8-10 strawberries, blueberries or raspberries
8-10 red seedless grapes
8-10 cubes of fresh melon
Mix together and sprinkle with the juice of a fresh orange.
Plus 1 glass of yogurt drink made with a small carton of natural
yogurt in a glass with ice cubes and 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix
well.
Plus 1 cup of herbal or lemon tea

Lunch:

Fresh Fruit Plate:
1 cup fresh strawberries, blueberries or raspberries
1 banana cut into cubes
3 inch wedge of watermelon, diced
3/4 of a cucumber diced finely
Put all in a large bowl. Mix 1 teaspoon of mint jelly with lemon
juice and pour over fruit. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of salted
peanuts over the top.

Plus 1 glass of yogurt drink made with a small carton of natural
yogurt in a glass with ice cubes and 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix
well.

Mid Afternoon:

1 cup of herbal or lemon tea

Dinner:

8-10 strawberries, blueberries or raspberries
8-10 red seedless grapes
8-10 cubes of fresh melon
Mix together and sprinkle with the juice of a fresh orange.
Plus 1 glass of yogurt drink made with a small carton of natural
yogurt in a glass with ice cubes and 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix
well.
Plus 1 cup of herbal or lemon tea

REPEAT THIS DIET FOR 1 MORE DAY.

PRESSED FOR TIME DIET

(Lose up to 5 Pounds in 2 Days)

This diet will help you to get into those skinny jeans that you
have been setting aside for the past few weeks. It is a very
effective diet, which consists of a healthy slimming drink to be
taken 3 times a day along with delicious fruit and nuts. This diet
is designed to be done for 2 days and 2 days only. If you need to
repeat this diet, you should eat normally for 2-3 days before
restarting it.

THE DIET

At each meal, 3 times a day, mix together the following
items:
6 tablespoons unsweetened apple juice
6 tablespoons unsweetened orange juice
1-1/2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice
1 teaspoon plain natural yogurt
1 teaspoon sweetened condensed milk or honey
Mix all ingredients together well and drink slowly in small sips.
With this drink you can have:
Either 10 – 12 fresh strawberries, sliced
Or 2 fresh pears, sliced
Or 2 fresh peaches, sliced
Or 1 large banana, sliced
To the fruit you select, add either 10-12 walnuts, hazelnuts or
almonds and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

In between meals you may have 1 cup of either mint or herbal
tea or plain tea without milk. Do not have more than 3 cups per
day.

REPEAT THIS DIET FOR 1 MORE DAY.

PINEAPPLE AND RICE DIET

(Lose up to 4 Pounds in 2 Days)

Rice as we know is a very simple food, but can be a very delicious
food when eaten with certain other foods. This is a very
refreshing rice diet with pineapple to top it off. This diet is
designed to be done for 2 days and 2 days only. If you need to
repeat this diet, you should eat normally for 2 days before
restarting it.

THE DIET

Breakfast:

1 glass of fresh unsweetened pineapple juice
1 slice of fresh pineapple

Lunch:

1 cup boiled rice
1 fried or poached egg
1 glass of fresh unsweetened pineapple juice

Dinner:

1 cup of boiled rice
Small portion of spinach and steamed white fish
1 glass of fresh unsweetened pineapple juice
You may also have 3 additional glasses of mineral water or herbal
tea with lemon each day.

REPEAT THIS DIET FOR 1 MORE DAY.

RED WINE DIET

(Lose up to 5 Pounds in 2 Days)

This diet will really take the boredom out of dieting and will leave
you up to 5 pounds lighter after only 2 days. For those of you
that like wine, get your wine glasses ready. This diet is designed
to be done for 2 days and 2 days only. If you need to repeat this
diet, you should eat normally for 2 days before restarting it.
You will need 1 bottle of red wine per day for this diet.

THE DIET

Breakfast:

1 glass of red wine mixed with the juice of 1 fresh lime and 1
fresh orange, topped with ice cubes
1 small cup of black coffee
1 poached egg
1 thin slice whole grain bread toasted
Lunch:
2 glasses of red wine
1/2 chicken served on a bed of green leaf lettuce with a wedge of
lemon
1 small black coffee

Dinner:

Pour the remainder of your bottle of wine into a tall glass and fill
with soda or low calorie tonic and ice cubes

Plus

You may have a good helping of one of the following: Grilled
lobster, fresh crab or prawns served with 2 tablespoons of hot or
cold pureed spinach.
1 small black coffee or tea with lemon

REPEAT THIS DIET FOR 1 MORE DAY.

HERBAL TEA DIET

(Lose up to 5 Pounds in 2 Days)

This is a very effective cleansing diet that will help to cleanse
your digestive system. It is designed to be done for 2 days and 2
days only. If you need to repeat this diet, you should eat
normally for 2 days before restarting it.

THE DIET

Early AM:

1 medium glass of herbal tea
Plus one of the following:
1 thin slice of melon
1/2 grapefruit without sugar
1 slice of fresh pineapple
1 tablespoon stewed apple without sugar

Morning:

1 medium glass of herbal tea
1/2 hard boiled egg with a pinch of salt

Lunch:

1 small bowl of any clear soup made with bouillon cube
1 thin slice of whole grain toast
1 medium glass of herbal tea

Late Afternoon:

1 medium glass of herbal tea
1/2 hard boiled egg with a pinch of salt

Dinner:

2 tablespoons of one of the following:
Zucchini
Cabbage
Spinach
Cauliflower

Steam the vegetable and drain well. Place in a dish and sprinkle
with 1 oz of grated cheese and brown under the broiler until
cheese is golden brown.
Plus 1 medium glass of herbal

REPEAT THIS DIET FOR 1 MORE DAY.

GRAPE LOVER’S DIET

(Lose up to 4 Pounds in 2 Days)

This program is a very simple program and is very effective. If
you like grapes, then this is the program for you. Use fresh
green or red seedless grapes. This diet is designed to be done for
2 days and 2 days only. If you need to repeat this diet, you
should eat normally for 2-3 days before restarting it.

THE DIET

Breakfast:

1 glass of warm milk with 1 teaspoon honey
1 boiled egg
6-8 fresh grapes

Mid Morning:

1 small bunch of fresh grapes
1 glass of unsweetened grape juice

Lunch:

1 glass of warm milk with 1 teaspoon honey
1 boiled egg
6-8 fresh grapes

Mid Afternoon:

1 cup of herbal tea with lemon, no sugar

Dinner:

Grape Salad: cut 20-30 grapes in half and add 1 medium green
pepper, chopped, and a few sprigs of watercress or a couple of
lettuce leaves. Make a dressing from the juice of 1 lemon and a
teaspoon of honey and pour over the salad.

REPEAT THIS DIET FOR 1 MORE DAY.

SPEEDY CLEANSING DIET

(Lose up to 3 Pounds in 1 Day)

This is a very simple, delicious and effective one-day diet of fruit
and vegetable salad. You will see fantastic results in just 1 day.
This diet is designed to be done for 1 day and 1 day only. If you
need to repeat this diet, you should eat normally for 2 days
before restarting it.

THE DIET

For the fruit and vegetable salad, you will need:
1/4 small honey dew melon
1/4 small cantaloupe
1 small cucumber
3 regular sized tomatoes
Directions:
Peel and slice cucumbers
Peel the honey dew melon and cantaloupe, remove the seeds,
then dice
Remove skin and seeds from tomatoes and dice into small pieces
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl
Add dressing that you will make with 1 tablespoon white wine
vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil, pepper, salt and garlic to taste,
sprinkle of fresh parsley if available.
Mix well.
Store the salad in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat it.
Divide into 3 equal portions to eat at normal mealtimes.

Breakfast:

1 bowl of salad
1 slice of whole-grain toast
Thin slice of Cheddar Edam or Gouda cheese
1 cup of herbal tea with lemon, no sugar

Lunch:

1 bowl of salad
1 cup natural yogurt
1 cup of herbal tea with lemon, no sugar

Dinner:

1 bowl of salad
1 small glass of fruit juice
1 slice of whole-wheat toast
2 tablespoons cottage cheese
1 cup of herbal tea with lemon, no sugar

INNER YOU DIET

(Lose up to 3 Pounds in 1 Day)

This diet is simple and easy to follow. You will see great results
in just 1 day with up to 3 pounds of weight loss. This diet is
designed to be done for 1 day and 1 day only. If you need to
repeat this diet, you should eat normally for 2 days before
restarting it.

THE DIET

For one day you will need the following items:
1 pound fresh tomatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
2 oz grated cheddar cheese
1/2 raw onion
1 stick of celery
1/2 green pepper, remove seeds
Salt and pepper to taste
Distilled water or mineral

Directions:

Put all ingredients into a blender and mix until smooth. Season
to taste and add the distilled water until the required consistency
is achieved.
This should make 8 small glasses of liquid food.
One glass is to be consumed every 2 hours throughout the day.

ABOUT DIETING

QUICK WEIGHT LOSS DIET

(Lose up to 4 Pounds in 1 Day)

This diet is great for fast weight loss. However, you must follow
it on a day when you can stay in and rest. You can spend the
time reading or pampering yourself during this time. This diet is
designed to be done for 1 day and 1 day only. If you need to
repeat this diet, you should eat normally for 3-4 days before
restarting it.

THE DIET

INGREDIENTS:

2 eggs
2 pints of low fat milk
1 8 oz glass of fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon oil (olive oil, flaxseed oil, or vegetable oil)
Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together and drink throughout the day at
hourly intervals or whenever you feel hungry. Do not drink or eat
anything else during this time.
If you get really thirsty, you can have a glass of mineral water or
distilled water.

By Kathleen Goodwin, RD

#1: Never crash diet

When you lose weight rapidly your body is typically only losing glycogen (carbohydrate) and water weight, not fat. Your body thinks that it's starving and reduces its metabolic rate, which makes it harder for your body to burn each calorie (they burn at a slower pace than they normally would). Then when you start eating normally again, your body stores as much food as it can into your fat cells in case of another “famine.”

#2: Substitute foods instead of eliminating them

Although many people feel that “diet” or “reduced fat” foods are not as good as the original, it can be a big help to buy less fatty snack foods. Try out different reduced fat brands and items and who knows, you may find something that you like even better than the original. The key is making sustainable changes - if you can't live without tortilla chips, trying to eliminate them entirely from your diet won't work. Making the change to a lower-calorie reduced fat tortilla chip can make a noticeable change in total calories consumed over time.

#3: Think about what you drink

Cutting soda out of your diet completely can save the average person 360 calories or more each day. Even diet soda, fruit juices, and whole milk can add unnecessary calories to your daily intake. Instead, drink lots of water and switch from whole to skim or even soy milk; the little things can make a big difference.

#4: Move around

Getting up, moving around, and exercising will reduce the amount of food that you will need to cut back on. There are obviously many opportunities to be athletic and active (i.e. sports teams, the gym, going for a jog, etc.) if that interests you, but these aren't the only ways to increase your activity level. You can walk to school, bike to work, walk up and down the stairs a few times before you take a shower, take an extra lap or two around the grocery store.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 30-45 minutes of moderate aerobic performed 3-5 times per week in their Guidelines for Healthy Aerobic Activity, but if all you can do is walk around the block twice before you go to bed, that's a good start. Anything is better than nothing, and it's harder to be eating while you're moving around, so it may result in you eating slightly less as well as burning more calories.

The best thing about aerobic exercise is that the benefits are cumulative - you essentially gain the same health benefits from taking three ten-minute walks throughout the day as you do from taking one 30 minute walk. With this in mind, it can be much easier to break your activity goal into manageable pieces that will fit into your day.

#5: Start small

Gradually ease into your diet if possible. Many diet programs allow you to do this. Remember that small changes are easier to stick with than drastic ones. Start by always leaving a little extra on your plate, or drinking water instead of soda. Smaller changes are also more likely to remain with you when the duration of your diet is complete. Aim for behavior-change goals that you know you will be able to maintain over years, not just weeks.

#6: Don't overeat

If you're full, or even simply satisfied, stop eating. There's no need to eat until your stomach feels like it's going to explode. Also, keep in mind that it takes a while for the nutrients in your food to enter your bloodstream, and circulate to the nerve centers in your brain that regulate appetite. Eating slowly is helpful in this regard--you give your body a chance to recognize that you've had enough to eat.

#7: Try not to banish certain foods

Don't tell yourself that you can NEVER have something again because you will immediately crave it. People need to eat fats to be healthy as well, just make sure that you're eating them in moderation, and maybe try to balance out a fatty food you ate earlier in the day by choosing celery sticks over chips for your snack. Try to get yourself to think, “I know I CAN have it, but should I have it?”

#8: Be in it for the long term

Crash diets and unsustainable exercise routines will not keep you at your desired weight for the long term. You need to focus on realistic, acheivable goals - behavior modification that you can live with for years, instead of just weeks. For an example, let's say that a hypothetical person is ten pounds overweight, but at perfect energy balance - they eat exactly as many calories as they burn every day, so their weight remains constant. If that person sacrifices one small snack that they have every day, let's say a handful of chips equaling 100 calories, over the course of a year that person will lose over ten pounds! A pound of fat on your body represents 3500 stored calories. 100 calories X 365 days in a year = 36,500 calories, or over ten pounds of fat. Small changes can make a big difference in your health.

By Erica Lesperance, RD, LD

Traditional holiday recipes were originally made from the most delicious ingredients as a way to celebrate the special holiday season. These ingredients include butter, heavy cream, nuts, meats, and preserves. The creation of the recipes predated the American obesity epidemic, but today people are more aware of the sometimes shocking calorie and fat content of these dishes. Some people choose to ignore this information and deal with the consequences of their consumption after the first of the year. However, pounds gained during the holiday season are often never lost, so it is worth being conscious of the following high-calorie holiday dishes so you can practice some waistline damage control.

10 High-Calorie Holiday Foods

1. Turkey- Dark Meat and Skin: The moist texture of a turkey's dark meat and the intense flavor of its skin are due to the high fat content in both. Just 4 ounces of dark meat turkey with some skin provides 250 calories and 13 grams of fat, while 4 ounces of white meat without skin only has 150 calories and 1 gram of fat.
2. Mashed Potatoes: Despite the claims of low-carb dieters everywhere, potatoes are not the enemy. Standing alone, potatoes are actually a low calorie, fat-free food. However, traditional holiday mashed potato recipes call for generous amounts of butter, cream, and sometimes even cheese. Loaded up with these heavy ingredients, mashed potatoes can reach a whopping 470 calories per 1-cup serving.
3. Gravy: As if the mashed potatoes and turkey didn't do enough damage, we often like to top it all with gravy made from the bird's fat drippings. Pour ¾ cup of gravy over your plate, and you'll add 375 calories.
4. Candied Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are an extremely nutritious vegetable that needs very little interference to make it taste heavenly. But the tradition of candying sweet potatoes, which means adding brown sugar and butter, turns this nutritious treat into a high-calorie sweet. And when we top it with marshmallows, we increase the calories to an incredible 400 calories from just a ¾ cup serving!
5. Stuffing: Traditionally, stuffing is cooked inside the turkey where it absorbs much of the fat from the bird. Whether made from corn bread or white bread, it often contains high-fat ingredients such as butter, sausage, and nuts, averaging about 340 calories per 1 cup serving.
6. Potato Latkes: A traditional Hanukkah dish, potato latkes are patties of shredded potato held together with matzo and egg that is fried in a generous amount of oil. They are often served with applesauce and/or sour cream. Three latkes with 1 tablespoon of sour cream on each pack over 400 calories.
7. Eggnog: This rich and creamy holiday drink is not for the weak of heart. At 350 calories and 19 grams of fat (11 of which are saturated) per 8-ounce serving, over-consumption of this holiday treat packs on pounds and clogs arteries.
8. Prime Rib: While ham is a more traditional choice for a holiday dinner, those opting for something more upscale may choose prime rib. Unfortunately, this cut of meat is called "prime" because it contains 35-45% fat, which is the highest of all cuts. A 4-ounce serving of prime rib contains about 425 calories. But let's face it - nobody eats 4 ounces of this succulent cut of meat. A more common serving size is at least 8 ounces, which delivers a hefty 850 calories.
9. Peanut Brittle: While peanuts contain good fat, they are high in calories and should be consumed in moderation. Add butter and corn syrup (sugar) to peanuts and you have peanut brittle, which packs 485 calories into a 3.5 ounce serving.
10. Pecan Pie: Same story as the peanut brittle with the addition of a flaky, buttery crust. A generous serving of pecan pie can top out at 800 calories!

Minimizing the Holiday Food Damage

Indulging in even moderate quantities of these high-calorie foods regularly throughout the holiday season can wreak havoc on your waistline. Of course it is possible to purchase or prepare healthier versions of the above foods, but you may not be involved in their preparation. Even if your host doesn't take any calorie-cutting measures, just being aware of the dishes that are highest in fat and calories will help you make better choices and eat smaller quantities.

Four Tips to Keeping Calorie Intake Down at the Holiday Table

To make sure you do not go overboard, first pick your favorites and skip anything that does not look amazing. There are always too many options-you do not have to eat one of everything.

Second, take smaller portions than you are used to since these are rich foods and it will certainly not take much to fill you up.

Third, limit yourself to one helping. If you are tempted to go back for more, wait 20 minutes, by which time you will probably feel too full.

Finally, eat slowly and savor every bite. The holidays are a time of feasting and celebrating, and you should be able to enjoy some special treats with your friends and family. Just enjoy them mindfully.

Weight Loss Tip: Digestive Enzymes

In my book Natural Cures I talk about various tips for weight loss. As I mentioned in my above article about acid reflux disease, most people today do not have enough enzymes in their diet. If you are overweight, have a sluggish digestive system, have a hard time losing weight, or feel bloated and gassy, there is an excellent chance that your body is not producing enough digestive enzymes to deal with the food that you are consuming. If you want to speed up your metabolism, reduce gas and bloating, reduce indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux, and flatten out your tummy, it is important that you have enough digestive enzymes in your system to deal with the food you are consuming.

One simple way to flatten the tummy, eliminate gas, bloating and indigestion, speed the metabolism, and lose five to ten pounds effortlessly is simply to take digestive enzymes with your meals. Consult with your licensed healthcare practitioner and go to your health food store or go on the Internet, and try various brands of digestive enzymes. Digestive enzymes consist of varying types of digestive aides, enzymes, as well as acidophilus and betaine hydrochloric acid. Each brand has different components, different ingredients; all are effective to varying degrees. Try different brands to see which one your body works the best with. Adding digestive enzymes when you eat food will make your food digest quicker and easier, and go through your system much faster. It will eliminate gas, bloating, and acid reflux. It will flatten the tummy. It should increase bowel movements, making you eliminate much more frequently and make the movements much easier. You will find energy increasing, heaviness decreasing, and an overall feeling of wellbeing.

Most people report that by taking digestive enzymes they lose anywhere between three to five pounds in the first thirty days without doing anything different. Most people report that food cravings diminish, appetite diminishes, and gas, bloating, indigestion, and acid reflux virtually vanish. Most people notice a dramatic reduction in their protruding tummy within the first week. Try this tip for weight loss and please write me with your results.

Weight Loss Tip: Salsa

 

Hot peppers increase metabolism. Increased metabolism means you burn more fat. It means you have more energy and vitality in your body. If you want to lose weight, there's a very simple thing you can do, which will allow you to burn faster the food you're eating, allowing you to lose weight simpler and easier.

To give you an example, I am reminded of the time I had a Shao Lin monk living with me at my home. This man did not have an ounce of fat on his body. He looked 20 years younger than he was. His body was firm, yet incredibly flexible. He had agility, incredible strength, speed, quickness, coordination, grace, fluidity and flexibility. With his incredible slim physique, it amazed me that he ate six times a days. He ate massive amounts of food. He obviously had a high metabolism.

The interesting thing to note was that every meal he would ask for hot sauce or hot peppers. He loaded up his food with very hot spices and peppers. His food was so hot that perspiration would bead up all over his bald head and face. He was constantly patting his head dry as he ate. The heat was so intense that he was sweating profusely during each meal. This was interesting. The heat from the peppers increased the fire in his body and increased his metabolism and ability to burn the massive amount of calories he was consuming. This helps him remain thin.

I began to read studies around the world that proved this to be true. So the simple weight loss tip is starting with breakfast, add organic hot salsa to your meals. Ginger is also hot. Grated fresh ginger added to your meals. You can also grate ginger and then squeeze it and put the juice on your food. Hot peppers and anything that increases “heat” will work. This also increases your digestion and helps move food through the colon quicker, increasing elimination.

Rapid Weight Loss

Day 14

Breakfast
Turkey sausage, 2 links
1 serving high-fiber cereal
1 cup low-fat, skim, or soy milk
Sliced peaches
Coffee or tea
Snack
1 cup low-fat, sugar-free yogurt (any flavor)
Lunch
Grilled chicken breast
French-style green beans, boiled
Baked potato, medium
Snack
Banana
Dinner
Roast beef
Stewed tomatoes
Tossed salad with 2 tablespoons low-fat blue cheese
dressing