We’re halfway through December, a notorious month for weight gain due to all the holiday parties and other food-related gatherings.  Here are five tips to help prevent weight gain during these festivities:

1. Bring an afternoon snack to work to prevent overindulging at the holiday goodies table mid-afternoon.  Ideas include cheese and crackers, hard boiled eggs, raw vegetables and hummus, or a protein shake.

2. Stay hydrated – it’s easy to mistake thirst for hunger.  Even though it’s cold outside, your body still needs plenty of water to keep from getting dehydrated due to dry winter air. 

3. Eat something containing protein alongside anything sweet or alcoholic.  This prevents your blood sugar from “spiking and crashing” which contributes to weight gain.  There are usually protein choices at most holiday parties in the form of cheese, meat, and dips.  Be sure to put a portion of these items on your party plate alongside any desserts or alcoholic drinks.

4. Eat a light snack before going to evening holiday parties.  It may seem counterintuitive to eat before going to a party, but if you have something very light containing protein (half a protein shake, 1 hard boiled eggs, 2” piece of cheese) then you will arrive at the party with stable blood sugar and will be more likely to stay in control of portion sizes when it’s time to eat.

5. If it’s a potluck, bring something healthy to share that you know you will eat and enjoy.  Ideas include fruit, a veggie tray with dip, a cold cut platter, cheese and crackers, or deviled eggs.

I have always loved limes. They add a zesty kick to fresh fish, salsa’s and even water. It wasn’t until my roommate began commenting on how I consistently drink lime water that I began to really think about why my body craves and absorbs lime so well.

Lime has been found to aid with digestion, skin health, and weight loss.  Personally limes for me are a great way to allow my body to relax after dinner and help with digestion. I also add a little bit of salt so that it not only gives me the benefits of lime but the salt (celtic salt) helps me absorb water faster and reap the benefits of being hydrated. Here is a closer look at some of the benefits of limes.

Digestion: Just the smell of limes induces the first step of digestion which begins with salivating. The acids that limes contain help with the breakdown of food. The natural oils found in limes encourage digestion and increase digestive juices.

Skin Care: The oil in limes is also beneficial to your skin. Lime oil can revive your skin by protecting it from infections, adding shine and reducing body odor.  Just be sure to dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba – plain lime oil on the skin can burn!

Weight Loss: A glass of water with lime juice is an excellent fat burner as well as a brilliant refresher and antioxidant drink.

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of limes you can also visit this fun website where I found this great information!

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-lime.html

In three short weeks, I will be teaching a webinar (online seminar for you non-webbies) on blood sugar. This subject is so huge that I could probably teach on it for eight hours straight. When I realize that I only have an hour of your attention I get into editing and prioritizing mode.

When most of us think of blood sugar, we think of diseases – like diabetes since it can be a life and death issue for a person dealing with the illness. But there is so much more to blood sugar than that! It is a topic that applies to every single one of us living in today’s world of processed foods and readily available junk who need to learn how to make choices that keep our bodies balanced.

Many health practitioners believe that erratic blood sugar is the cause of accelerated aging and disease. I know for a fact that the fatigue so many of us deal with daily (though it has been good business for coffee shops) has a lot to do with a lack of blood sugar control. Uncontrolled blood sugar is also a major impediment to maintaining a healthy weight and preserving muscle mass.

Needless to say, it will be an hour jam-packed with information, along with my super funny and sometimes lame jokes. There is nothing stranger than the feeling of telling a biochemistry joke (yes, the best jokes of all!) while staring at my computer and knowing that 50+ people are on the other end of that computer and I can’t tell if they’re laughing or crying. Oh well, I just hope I don’t talk too fast. Click here to register for the excitement, or go to marilynfarms.com and click on the promo piece next to the specials.

If any of you out there have ideas for future blogs or webinars, please share by adding a comment below!