Phase 4 on the HCG Diet - Eating Healthy During the Holiday Season

By Dean Yannello
For many people, holidays and family get-togethers are a time for celebration. These celebrations often involve foods that are high in fat, sugar and calories and fall short on nutrition. With a few minor changes, however, special occasion foods can be both delicious and nutritious.

Avoid fast food. The holiday season can keep you on the go with little time to prepare meals. Fast food may be handy, but often is high in fat. Prepare and freeze quick, healthy meals ahead of time to stay out of the fast food trap.

Don't go to a party starving. Before you leave home, eat something light or drink a meal replacement shake. Also drink a great deal of water the day of the party.

Alcoholic beverages can pack on the calories, so if you're drinking alcohol, choose a light beer or a champagne spritzer. Watch out for the Egg-Nog - it is high in calories and fat.

Offer to bring a low-calorie dish to holiday parties. Your host might appreciate it, and you'll know that at least one healthy item will be on hand.

If you are at the mercy of the dinner host, eat modest amounts of the foods offered and fill up on foods with more fiber and volume and fewer calories. Make a small plate and skip the seconds. Just because it is the holidays doesn't mean you should give yourself the license to eat everything that passes by. Factor in the little extras into your daily intake. If you are staying with family or friends ask them if you can have a space in the refrigerator and keep foods on hand to snack on like lean deli meats, cottage cheese, non-fat cheese sticks, etc.

Most people have a little extra time available over the holiday season when they are not at work. Take this opportunity to develop a regular exercise regimen. This will help to burn off the excess calories and fat consumed over this period. It will also get you into the habit of exercising, and you can continue the regimen after the holiday season is over.

For more information on how to maintain your weight loss while on Phase 4 of the hCG Diet Protocol visit http://www.hcgdoctorsgroup.com. Dean is co-author of the first physician updated 800 calorie hCG diet protocol book published in 50 years entitled, The Best Diet You Have Never Heard Of. The new protocol revision was developed by weight loss physicians and medical professionals to provide the prescribing practitioner with a higher standard in hCG weight loss therapy and provide a much safer and more tolerable programfor the patient.

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