Its All About Christmas

webmaster My30daysdiet asked:

Many people can answer to the affirmative when it comes to this question. This is because statistics show that weight gain is a problem that continues to plague approximately 40% of the local population and kills almost 500,000 people every year every year. This is not to mention the loss of economic productivity to the tune of billions of dollars that is a direct result of being overweight.

Obesity is a medical term that actually means that the body has accumulated enough body fat to become a health. Obesity is measured in BMI or body mass index which is a measure of one’s weight in relation to their age and height. A BMI of over 25 is considered overweight and there are many that can attest to being well over this figure since last Christmas.

There are various ways one can gain weight and you can identify with some of these reasons. One reason is indulging in high calorie diets without exercising enough. Fast foods are usually the culprits in many cases. The fast food epidemic is not about to abate and affects millions of people especially in the West. This is because more and more people are finding that they do not have enough time to buy groceries and even cook and therefore have only fast food restaurants to turn to. While many fast food restaurants have vowed to reduce the amount of trans fats that they use to fry their foods, nevertheless fast food meals continue to have excess calories and have been major culprits in the obesity epidemic.

Sometimes it is not just fast foods. It can be ordinary home cooked meals whereby people indulge in a lot of high calories foods and snacks and then spend a lot of time watching TV. This has also been a major reason for obesity especially when it comes to the younger generation. Buying food without checking their calorie levels can also cause people to be obese. Then off course there are those with a genetic makeup that does not allow them to burn enough fat to stay trim. If these people in turn indulge in unhealthy eating habits, then obesity can result.

If this is you, then don’t lose hope. There are ways you can cut down on excess weight starting today. The first step is to get education. The USFDA-operated website, www.mypyramid.gov gives excellent advice on different diets and foods and these can be extremely helpful. You can now know what to buy when you are out grocery shopping or at a buffet or a friend’s house for a cookout.

Searching the Internet for the right diet plans also helps. There are many diet plans out there and you can check which one fits what you want. Some even allow for periodic deliveries to your house so you do not have to miss a meal at all. And off course you can research on the best exercise regimen for you as well.

for more Visit: http://www.my30daysdiet.com

Audrey Lynn asked:

It is the end of the year, and it is time to plan for Christmas. With great food and festive spirit, Christmas is a joyous celebration we look forward to. However, if you are on of those who are allergies prone, it is a different story. Christmas is also associated with seasonal allergens such as the pollen from Christmas trees, the scent from Christmas candles, the mold from old Christmas ornaments. Most of all, the allergy prone has to combat with food allergies in all the Christmas goodies. Currently, the only cure for people who are allergy-sensitive is to prevent intake of foods which makes them allergic or what is termed as “allergens.” To avoid food allergy attacks, it is a must to carefully prepare the food that will be consumed by allergy-sensitive people. Here are some tips if you are preparing “allergen” free food.

Egg-free Diet

Over reaction of the immune system in the body when proteins from the eggs are ingested causes egg allergy.

You need to avoid prepared foods wherein albumin, egg, and other egg substitutes are present if you have allergies with egg. There are different egg substitute which you incorporate on your cooking recipe such as:

- Puree from apricot

- Plain gelatin with warm water

- Mix of baking powder, vinegar and liquid

You need to check the appropriate amount of each item before you prepare the above-mentioned substitutes.

Peanut-free Diet

All kinds of nut as well as foods that may contain “peanut protein” should be prevented for consumption if you happen to belong to people who have peanut allergies.

These days, there are a lot of peanut-free recipes you can prepare. To name a few of peanut-free recipes are: (1) SoyNut Butter Cookies; (2) Smoothie made from Super Soy; (3) Tofu Pie made from SoyNut and Banana; (4) Ginger soup; and (5) Sauce prepared from SoyNut.

It has been discovered that “soy nut” is the best substitute for food preparation which is free from peanut. A soy nut does not belong to the “nut” family since the term is coined for soybeans that are drenched and baked for a crispier taste.

Milk-free Diet

Milk allergy is an allergic response of the immune system when an individual has consumed one or more proteins acquired from cow’s milk.

If you are allergic to milk, you need not consume foods or beverages which contain milk, butter, different types of cheese, and sour creams. Some of dairy-free recipes which you may want to prepare are: (1) Potato Soup which are homemade; (2) Grilled Salmon; (3) Shrimp which is marinated then grilled; (4) Pecan snack; and (5) Spaghetti with No Red Sauce.

The complete information with regards to the recipes of some cited examples may be searched at the internet. The ingredients as well as the cooking procedures are also available through the internet. All you need to do is type in the keyword. The internet is a good source of recipes.

Eating should not be boring for people with food allergies. It takes a lot of creativity and resourcefulness so that you can eat the foods that you want using different food substitutes.

Janice Tham asked:

How much weight did you put on from the Thanksgiving dinner?

How much more have you gained from eating the left overs?

Soon after the Thanksgiving feast come all the Christmas parties and year end parties. You know those parties where everyone is dressed to kill and you get to wear fabulous party dresses… only that, they may no longer fit.

Whoever planned the holiday calendar must have had a sadistic streak. First, have a feast where you end up pigging out. Then, with all those extra pounds, squeeze into your party dresses for one party after another. Maybe in those days, fat was considered beautiful.

Would you fit into your party dresses? Will your belly bulge be more prominent. Tune in to.. whatever.

There is still time to lose weight in time for Christmas parties. How much you lose depends really on how motivated you are to lose weight. You must want to do it for yourself, not for someone else. It involves lots of discipline as you have to stick to an exercise schedule and watch what and how much you eat. Sure, there are quick fixes like pills and surgery, but the old fashion way, through diet and exercise is the healthiest way to go.

There is no need to starve yourself to get into that dress. Okay, your stomach may growl if you cut down your food intake, but there is no need to eat until like 100% full. Do like the French women. Eat until you are 80% full, then stop.

Control your food portion. Substitute junk food with healthy, yet tasty alternatives. Grill your food instead of deep frying. Eat fruit instead of candy. Frozen milk or yogurt instead of ice cream. A small scoop of vanilla ice cream is an okay treat a few times a week but hold the hot fudge, peanuts and other trimmings. Dress it with fresh fruit instead.

Remove the skin from the chicken before you eat it and eat chicken breast meat, or better yet, turkey breast. Eat lots of white fish.

Skip soft drinks or sweetened drinks in favour of water.

Get a calorie counter and a food diary. Record everything you eat and compute how many calories you consume each day. Make it a point to reduce the calories every way you can through food subsitutions and by watching your portion size.

When you party, go for sushi. Avoid the creamy ones though. Drink water instead of punch. Limit alcohol to a glass of the best wine you can get or a glass of the best champagne as alcohol is very high in calories.

Besides reducing your calorie intake, set aside 45 minutes everyday to exercise.

Go for a jog. Put on your sweats and run around the block.

Live in an apartment? Climb the stairs. Just go all the way up to the top of the building and down again, until the 45 minutes are up.

Hit the gym every day and workout for at least 45 minutes each time. Or get yourself a treadmill and set aside 45 minutes a day to run.

If that is beyond your budget, get a skipping rope and jump rope for 45 minutes. Get a hoola hoop to vary that with your skipping. Do jumping jacks as well.

Or invest in a workout video. There are so many available. Pick one that interests you or a few you can rotate to keep your workout from becoming boring.

Stick to this everyday and you should get in shape in time for Christmas

Craig Harper asked:

* Before I even write this piece, I know that I will ruffle some feathers. I know that this topic will polarise you, the reading audience. I’m okay with that. I’m okay with your opinion, as long as you’re okay with mine. We don’t have to agree with each other, merely listen and consider. Feel free to share your constructive thoughts at the end. I’m happy for you to disagree with me, but I won’t publish any comment which is abusive or not constructive. Had a few of those lately. When all else fails, go the insult!

I was on ABC radio here in Melbourne on Saturday discussing how we might enjoy the Christmas cheer without enjoying the traditional Christmas weight gain, and let’s just say that my thoughts weren’t met with universal approval from the listening audience. How dare I suggest that we don’t gorge ourselves on Christmas day. I was unaware that ‘moderation’ was a synonym for misery and deprivation. I was also unaware that we ‘deserve’ to eat ourselves to oblivion and that my thoughts on the matter are unrealistic and impractical. The message I got from some listeners is that there exists a direct correlation between calories consumed and ‘Christmas spirit’. And that there also exists a strong link between how much food is on the Christmas lunch/dinner table and having a good time. Lots of food = good time. Not so much food = bad time.

According to some listeners, I’m an idiot and a dickhead. How dare I suggest that we include some healthier options on our Christmas menu and that maybe we don’t continue eating until we explode. What am I thinking? Apparently, the point of Christmas is food. You know that whole ‘three wise men, the manger, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus’ thing? Well, turns out that the real meaning of Christmas is to see how much pleasure we can give ourselves via an inordinate amount of calories. Who’da thought?

How could we possibly have festive cheer without the gluttony? It’s what we do. And not doing it, is a form of deprivation. It’s disrespectful. It’s breaking with tradition, and who are we to question our parents and grandparents who paved the way by over-eating before us? We’ve even taken our ‘Christmas cheer’ to a new level. They’d be so proud.

The crazy thing about Christmas is that we actually plan to overeat and we think that’s normal and acceptable. It’s what we do. It’s how we celebrate. And if we don’t indulge ourselves we feel like we’ve ‘missed out’; a little neglected even.

Maybe I’m a freak, but the notion of planning to over-eat on a given day seems kinda stupid to me, especially when I live in a country with one of the fastest growing obesity rates on the planet and more fat (sorry, full-figured, big-boned, voluptuous) people, with more obesity-related medical conditions than ever before. Call me crazy. Call me boring.

Note to self: Craig, don’t describe fat people as fat; it’s offensive, politically incorrect and unprofessional. Not allowed. Calling tall people tall – fine. Skinny people skinny – fine. Funny people funny – fine. Fat people fat… not fine.

I wonder if I can say that I used be to fat? Not full-figured, big-boned or voluptuous… just really fat. A whopper. It’s okay if I’m talking about me, right? Probably not, someone will get grumpy. Okay, we’ll stick with ‘full-figured’, it sounds much nicer. And we love nice. We’re comfortable with that. And we’re addicted to comfort. Reality… not so much. Okay, full-figured it is. Did I ever tell you that I was full-figured teenager? Quite Voluptuous actually. Would have been a great athlete if not for my big bones. Nup, it just doesn’t sound the same.

Isn’t it funny how some of us continue to find a way to get offended, rather than find a way to get healthy? Isn’t it also amusing how people get mad at me for stating an obvious reality (that an individual might be obese, for example) but not mad at themselves for what they have done to their body. Of course I would never walk up to someone and call them fat, but when I am discussing health and all it’s related issues in a professional context, I will speak the truth, and I will call obesity what it is; an over-fat body. While some people may use the term ‘fat’ in a derogatory sense, I don’t. I am using it in a scientific and pragmatic sense. I am referring to a person’s physiological state. Full stop.

While I had my share of supporters (back to the Saturday radio thing now) who thought I was speaking some common sense, there were others who asserted that “people like me are perpetuating eating disorders” and that I was “a self-righteous moron”. One woman told me that I was “dull and boring” and that I was a member of the “fun police” because I suggested that we moderate our food intake on Christmas day. I also had numerous abusive text messages. All in all, a fun time for me.

Okay so here’s exactly what I think about ho, ho, ho-ing into those Christmas calories:

1. Of course it’s okay to enjoy food, look forward to a meal (or ten) and to incorporate some ‘treat’ foods into your Christmas food plan. The occasional splurge is fine, but not when it lasts for two weeks or two months. The biggest eating issue at this time of the year is simply the ridiculous volume of food we consume… and not for one day. We eat because it’s there. Because it’s free. Because it’s at our finger tips. Because we’ve worked hard all year (and therefore we must overeat – go figure) and one of my personal faves… because it’s all paid for! Wouldn’t wanna waste anything would we? Imagine a world where we ate because we actually needed food, rather than wanted it, medicated with it, socialised with it or rewarded ourselves with it. What a concept. Crazy, I know. That’ll never catch on. Needs-based eating… not a chance.

2. It’s not okay to plan to overeat. I know this kind of thinking puts me in the minority, but I don’t care. People can rationalise over-eating with whatever weird-ass, self-serving psychology they like, but the truth is, it’s destructive and bad for our bodies. I am amazed at the ability we (we the society) have to justify stupid behaviour because it simply makes us feel good (for about an hour). One woman said to me recently “but yer gotta live” and when I asked her “so if you don’t over-eat at Christmas, does that mean you’re not living?” She got grumpy. Of course. When there is no logic left for you, reach for the insult or the indignant eye roll and heavy sigh.

3. Some traditions are stupid and destructive. I don’t care how long you’ve been doing it ‘that way’. My great grandparents, my grandparents and my parents all smoked… quite the tradition really.

4. We are pleasure addicts and we associate food with pleasure, therefore more food equals more pleasure. But what happens five minutes after we finish our Christmas lunch binge? We feel physically ill, we feel tired, we regret eating so much and we put our body in a state of stress because our digestive system is working triple-time trying to deal with an extreme over-supply of food. Excess food that our body doesn’t want, but our mind tells us we need to enjoy the ‘Christmas experience’. What a load of crap.

5. I love food. It’s why I was a fat kid. Sorry, voluptuous. Full-figured. And I know that food can be a source of pleasure in a healthy, sensible eating strategy. I look forward to my mother’s Christmas lunch and yes, I will enjoy some ‘Christmas foods’ and some pudding. But no, I won’t eat mountains of it. And no, I won’t feel sick or regretful afterwards. I know that I don’t need to over-eat to have a good day. Actually, I may substitute the pudding for cheesecake.

6. “But surely Craig, you are being a little ‘food police’ on us; it’s only one day?” Good question. I actually don’t care too much about that one day of the year. If it was only about over-eating on one day out of three sixty five, I wouldn’t write this piece and we wouldn’t have a problem, but you know, and I know, it’s not. It’s about the entire Christmas/New Year period. Some of us over-eat for a month. Some of us for a lifetime. It’s the psychology and the mentality behind the Christmas excess (not just that one meal) which is of concern to me. I have worked with many people (over the years) who have gained between 3-5 kgs (6.5-11lbs) over the Christmas/New Year period. They always regret it. Emotionally, mentally and physically, they feel horrible. I worked with a guy a few years ago who gained 10kgs (22lbs) between Christmas day and the end of January – quite the effort. It took him three months to lose.

7. Do not mis-interpret what I am saying. I am not saying don’t eat or don’t enjoy your Christmas meals. I am saying don’t use Christmas as a way to justify gluttony. Eating – fine. Stuffing yourself with an excess of food – not fine.

For me, Christmas is about giving, laughing, relaxing, hanging out with my family, being grateful for what I have and listening to my Dad sing (for want of a better term) all those carols. Again. I really wish he’d get a new CD.

waldorf asked:

During the Christmas season, summer and its body-conscious state of mind are distant memories. Hearty indulgence in the many foods shared at Christmas therefore doesn’t produce the same feelings of guilt.Nevertheless, it’s not a pleasant thought to start the New Year carrying any extra pounds. So why then eat yourself into a resolution to ‘take off a few extra pounds’ if you can smartly avoid it?

Whether it’s sharing cookies and candies at work, or having an evening out at a party or dinner, you can have Christmas food and enjoy it. While you seem to be eating heartily with a smile, the key is to have a secret strategy of moderation. It involves sticking to a plan that can be called ‘Eating on a Budget.’

‘Eating on a Budget’ is not about the cost of what is eaten, but about the quantity of what is eaten. It is important that a ‘budget’ or eating in moderation plan is developed because it is almost impossible to avoid exposure to a lot of cookies, candies and other sweets at Christmas. At work, you may risk appearing like the Grinch who stole Christmas if your response will always be something like, ‘Uh..no..bah humbug’ all the time that some Christmas goodies are offered. It will seem as if you aren’t in the spirit of the holidays especially since at that time of year everyone is usually in a festive and more relaxed mood, and the pace at work is usually slower.

A practical way to partake in Christmas goodies, for example, is to substitute some holiday cookies for say the bagel that you usually have with breakfast or for a mid-morning snack. And instead of just taking one cookie, from the platter, which is noticeable and likely will encourage a colleague to tell you to have more, take three instead. That’s where the plan can come into play. You can then enjoy the cookies over two or more hours, because nobody will be watching how you really eat. You can always have a few candies, one cookie or a cookie and a half by your desk and that way it will seem as if you are heartily enjoying the holiday treats.

Another strategy is to bring – bake or buy – low calorie Christmas cookies and candies to work to counteract others that are being offered. Since eating healthy is highly encouraged, health-conscious cookies will not be looked down upon so long as they taste great. A box of sugar-free Christmas chocolate candies for example will look just as delightful as regular chocolate candies. It’s interesting to note that in a poll sponsored by the National Confectioners Association in 2004, chocolate was the favourite food gift that Americans said they preferred to receive for the holidays. The lowly and much maligned fruit cake was last on the list. The second favourite holiday food gift was a fruit basket and a plate of cookies was third on the list, according to the Association.

For an occasion such as a Christmas party or a dinner, including Christmas Dinner, where larger quantities and selection of food is available, the ‘Eating on a Budget’ plan means that serving portions and the choice of food selected should be carefully watched.

At a party where more desserts and sweets are likely to be available, a few of the selections can be sampled. If the urge to try everything can’t be resisted, then do so, but then second helpings have to be severely limited. The same is somewhat true for Christmas Dinners. One big difference is that the food served during Christmas Dinner will be heavier, so by selecting portions wisely, one can always say truthfully that the stomach is full.And indeed, after a sumptuous Holiday Dinner, your body is likely to be full from food and your soul full of joy from sharing another memorable holiday tradition with family, friends and loved ones.

mike cole asked:

Before we begin “dishing” out some Christmas dessert recipes, let us talk about Splenda.

What is Splenda?

Splenda is a sugar substitute. It gained popularity in 1998 when the United States Food and Drug Administration approved it for use in commercially prepared baking products. Sixty other countries have followed the initiative of the American FDA.

Rose Reisman, who wrote Secrets for Permanent Weight Loss (Whitecap Books, 2005) describes Splenda as a better choice sweetener. It contains sucralose which is the only sweetener made from sugar and the only sweetener that is not associated with health problems. It is not digested as a carbohydrate, so diabetics need not worry about experiencing a surge of insulin levels.

People who have used Splenda say that one advantage it has over other sweeteners is that it retains its sweet taste even when heated.

Christmas Desserts Using Splenda

You may come across recipes that don’t say Splenda; instead they will say “sucralose.” They’re one and the same. Splenda is available in most stores and come in tiny, yellow packets.

Recipe # 1: On a cold Christmas Eve morning, what better way to wake up sleepy heads with the aromatic smell of Pear Muffins coming straight from the oven?

Pear Muffins

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes

Servings: yields 12 muffins

Ingredients:

Canola oil

2 cups self-rising flour

2 tsp baking powder

¾ cup sucralose

2/3 cup skim or low fat milk

2 eggs

2 ripe pears

Procedure:

Peel and mash the pears and set aside.

Prepare your muffin pan by greasing them with canola oil. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine self-rising flour and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add the sucralose. In a separate bowl, blend together milk, oil and eggs. Combine this mixture with the flour mixture. Add the mashed pears. Blend all ingredients well. Spoon the batter into 12 individual muffin holes.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

These muffins can be stored at room temperature and eaten the next day, but they are best eaten the same day!

Recipe # 2: Who doesn’t love New York-style Cheesecake? It is such a popular dessert that food stores and supermarkets now sell it frozen, but why spoil the spirit of Christmas by serving frozen food? Make this recipe and turn it into a labor of love. The children, grandchildren, cousins and uncles will love you for this New York-style cheesecake made from scratch!

New York-Style Cheesecake

Preparation time: 15-20 minutes

Cooking time: 20-25 minutes

Servings: 12 individual servings (recipe is not for a whole cheese cake)

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cups Ricotta cheese

3 oz light or low-fat cream cheese

½ cup sour cream

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp lemon zest

2/3 cup Splenda

3 tsbp lemon juice (preferably fresh)

3 tbsp all purpose flour

For garnish: your favorite berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries) and icing sugar.

Procedure:

Line your muffin pan with muffin paper cups. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Soften the cream cheese and combine with the ricotta cheese in a food processor. Add the sour cream, egg, vanilla, lemon juice (and zest), flour and Splenda. Make sure mixture is smooth and creamy. Pour into individual muffin holes.

Put the muffin tin in a larger pan containing hot water. The hot water must come up to 1/3 or halfway up the sides of the muffin tray. Put in oven and bake for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, take out the muffin tray from the larger tray. Set aside and let cool. Refrigerate for an hour or two. Top with garnish before serving. You can use the berries as they are, or you can mash them so they cover the top and glide on the side.

Recipe # 3: Spent the whole day in the mall for Boxing Day specials and forgot about dessert tonight? Here is a recipe for a chocolate cake. Most of the ingredients are probably already in your cupboard so no need to dash out again.

Simple & Quick Chocolate Cake

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups flour

2/3 cup sucralose

Pinch of salt

1 tsp baking soda

3 tbsp hot chocolate powder mix (any hot chocolate mix will do)

1 tbsp vinegar

8 tbsp canola oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup water (or 1 cup skim milk, if you prefer)

Procedure:

Sift the flour, baking soda, sucralose, salt and hot chocolate powder together. Add the rest of the wet ingredients. Blend well. Pour into an 8 inch round baking pan. Bake at 350 degree F for 30 minutes. Let cool and serve with your favorite topping.

Note: Instead of icing, you can use English devonshire cream. Spoon a few tablespoons into the dessert platter, enough for a slice of cake to sit on. Also, if you have left over slivered almonds or crushed walnuts, you can throw them into the batter.