With the holidays approaching, I thought I would lighten up all your moods even more by letting you know of some of the healthy benefits of some of our favorite holiday foods and treats!!! Don't you LOVE that good news?!
HOT CHOCOLATE- Cocoa is packed full of antioxidants which reduce your levels of cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that causes your body to hang on to belly fat. The combo of carbs and protein in the milk can also help your muscles recover faster from a tough workout.
I love plain milk hot chocolate but I also love lots of fun varieties. Here are some yummy HOT CHOCOLATE recipes...
CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP- People who eat broth or a veggie soup consume fewer calories over all. The water in the soup helps fill you up and boosts satiety And just the act of eating a warm soup helps slow your eating down so your body can notice feelings of fullness. Plus, who doesn't like chicken noodle soup. It can be made so many different ways.. Light or hearty.
Here are a couple of yummy recipes for Chicken Noodle Soup
POT ROAST- The moment protein passes your lips, it starts fighting fat. Your body has to work harder to break down protein and uses it for energy which means you burn more when you are digesting it. It also takes more time to leave your stomach, therefore keeping you fuller for longer.
Here is one of my favorite POT ROAST recipes.
OATMEAL- One cup of warm oatmeal contains 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. The combo of the two helps slow the digestion of carbs, reduces your insulin response and keeps you fuller for longer. I absolutely love how easy and yummy oatmeal is for breakfast, and as a secret I sometimes will sneak some oatmeal in as dinner. It is so easy to make, and you can do so many things with it for different flavors. Here is a link to some delicious OATMEAL recipes
ROASTED CARROTS- Either as a side or mixed into a meal, the high water and fiber content of carrots fills you up fast. You can also roast them for an even better calorie burn. Carrots roasted at 104 degrees contain 3X as many antioxidants as raw carrots.
Here is a link to some yummy ROASTED CARROTS
CHILI- The combination of fiber from the tomatoes and the protein from the beans and beef prevents over eating. Plus, Capsaicin, the compound that gives cayenne, chili peppers and jalapenos their heat, also torch fat.
As an added bonus, if you are not a big beef eater, you can substitute ground turkey for the beef. Here is a link to a delicious TURKEY CHILI recipe
SWEET POTATOES- Eating these can prevent sugar from getting stored around your waistline as fat. They are rich in carotenoids. Also, sweet potatoes are full of fiber, which slows digestion, prevents your blood sugar from plummeting and hunger form spiking.
PUMPKIN- One cup of pumpkin contains 46 calories and 3 grams of fiber. Plus, pumpkin is an excellent source of beta carotene which fights stress and inflammation in the body that's linked to increase fat storage. (SEE! Pumpkin pie isn't so bad after all!!! Thank heavens)
Here is a link to some of my favorite PUMPKIN PIE recipes
With the holidays so close, don't think you have to miss out on all of your favorite foods and treats. To keep up on your weight loss goals. Just remember to keep up your exercise, whether you join a gym and go at least 2-3 times a week, have some equipment at your house, or just go on a walk outside a couple days a week. Everything counts. I can honestly say you will NEVER regret a workout. You will only regret it if you don't go. As a new mom, and me going back to work I know for a fact how hard it is to get out of the house and go to the gym... Before I got pregnant, I started doing some of the Body Rock TV workouts on line... And man oh man... Just a short 30-60 minute workout got me sweating. I will post a link so you can try them too. LINK: BodyRockTV
I seriously enjoy the workouts and how you really can use things around your house to get an awesome workout. A word of advise from Whitney would be: Put in the effort and you will get the results you work for. Just remember self discipline and variety when it comes to foods and treats.
Enjoy!!!
-whit
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