Diet & Fitness

The little black dress diet

The Christmas party season is upon up and despite that slight panic about looking - and feeling - like a sparkler at your work 'do', you've decided to put your diet on hold.

Who on earth could lose weight in the run up to Christmas? You could and heres how!

The rules - portions sizes and drinks
A fruit portion would be a medium-sized piece of fruit such as an apple, two small fruits such as plums, a big slice of melon, a teacup full of cherries or grapes, or a small tin of fruit.

Veggies and salads are filling, have next to no calories and are so good for you - eat lots of them!

It's fine to have tea and coffee (with skimmed milk and sweeteners if you like) on this plan but stop at four or five per day.

Limit diet fizzy drinks to an absolute max of two cans or 500ml per day and try to cut these out completely if you can. With water, on the other hand, more is better - drink one to two litres per day, every day.

Eating out
It is very important to make smart choices when you're eating out.

Restaurant portions are often huge and the choices are often unhealthy so it's up to you to make the choices that will keep you on the straight and narrow!

Remember the portion sizes on your plan and eat just until you're satisfied. Get a starter and then share a main course, or order two starter portions if the restaurant you're in serves giant portions.

You know that a side salad, dressing on the side is a healthier choice than a plate of chips so be strong and make that choice!

Go for lean protein (chicken or fish over lamb), healthy cooking methods (grilled instead of fried). Beware of creamy sauces like korma or carbonara and replace them with Tandoori dishes and tomato-based sauces.

Have a snack (fruit, yoghurt etc) before going out so you're not starving and tempted to order one of everything.

Going for a drink
Alcohol is a double-whammy when it comes to diet. Not only does it provide a lot of calories, but it can also give you hungry!

It makes sense to cut back a bit but that doesn't have to mean total abstinence. Here's a run through of the calorie content in popular drinks:

Spirit: 55 cals 125ml glass of wine: 80-120 cals Measure of Bailey's: 140 cals Alcopops: 200-250 (Bacardi Breezer Lite: 100cals) Pint of beer: 125-250

Remember, women should drink no more than two to three units per day; men no more than three to four units per day. Max.

Getting a ready meal
The beauty of getting a ready meal from the supermarket is that you can read the labels and make an informed choice.

Your best bet is to go for a meal with less than 400 calories per serving but compare different meals to get the best deal for calories, fat and sodium - the lower the better.

Portion sizes can also be big but that's what freezers are for - store anything more than a portion in a Tupperware in the freezer or fridge for the next night.

So, pick out your Christmas party dress and throw away those big pants! It's time to get gorgeous!

Source: The Daily Mail