Valentine's Day Massacre

 

By: Candice Marshall

I think that the title was fitting…..don’t you? I’m not talking about a Prom Night two type of deal here….I am talking about that sweet, adorable man in our life who thinks it’s sooooo romantic to bring us a bouquet of roses, and…….a box of high calorie, fat laden chocolates in that red velvet heart shaped box! And it’s not enough to just set it aside and forget about it either because that pretty pink ribbon is just dying to be untied….and so, we do it and think, “Maybe just one won’t hurt?”

You are right! One won’t hurt, but how many of us have the willpower to eat only one? Even worse, what about the calorie-laden dinner at that candlelit steakhouse he’s taking you to? Hmmm?

And then there’s the single crowd celebrating their anti-Valentine’s Day with a few drinks at the local pub or dance club with their single cohorts. We all know how that ends up right? Pretty soon one drink becomes two and the appies are flying around the table and nobody cares what the calorie count is after that right? “It was only a few wings and a couple beers” is what we tell ourselves…..right?

Here's the scary statistics: On Valentine's Day, a whopping 1.1 billion boxes of chocolates are purchased in the United States alone! Hmmmm.

Enter the title of our blog post for this week: Valentine’s Day Massacre  - indeed! And it isn’t only Valentine’s Day that we overindulge. It’s Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, a baby shower, birthdays….. and the reality is, these events happen all year long and are unavoidable. So what can we do to stay on track with our New Year’s Resolution to lose weight and stay healthy?

Well, here is an excerpt from the “Calorie Control Council” that will help guide you along so that you can still fit that bikini that you swore you’d be wearing this summer and still enjoy your night on the town:

Step away from the bread basket. If you'd like a roll, grab one then move it outside of your reaching distance. The same goes for chips, should you be at a Mexican restaurant. Grab a small handful and then stay away from them the rest of the night.

Meal modifications are key. Feel free to make special requests. Ask the waiter if they can put the sauce on the side - or to substitute veggies for the french fries. Find out if your meal can be made without butter, oil or salt...anything that could help cut down on calories. And remember: in terms of calories, grilled is usually better than fried and baked is better than braised.

Start out healthy. Consider ordering a light salad or soup to kick things off. This will help to fill you up before you dive into the big meal. You also might want to split an entrée with your significant other.

Practice portion control. Remember that restaurant sizes are often larger than normal. Consider eating half of your meal and putting the rest in a doggie bag.

Avoid all the bells and whistles. Don't add a bunch of extras to your meal. When it comes to a salad, avoid topping it off with buttery croutons, grated cheese, bacon and dollops of high-fat dressing. The same goes with a burger, baked potato and other entrees.

Think red. Red bell peppers, radicchio, cherries, strawberries, red beans, red onions and tomatoes, for example, are all packed with vitamins, cancer-fighting antioxidants or cholesterol-busting fiber and protein. In addition, a daily glass of red wine is believed to help reduce the risk of blood clots and keep the cardiovascular system in shape. So forgo that cocktail, which can be loaded with sugar, and have a glass of red wine instead (and ask if they serve a light version).

Don't always give the gift of chocolate. If you and your significant other are trying to lose or maintain weight, consider purchasing a fruit basket instead of a box of chocolate, or baking a low-calorie dessert. It's also important to remember that a number of sugar-free candies and chocolate brands are available and can be found at your local grocery store or the candy section of an area pharmacy. A bouquet of flowers, healthy cookbook, personal training sessions or a day spa gift certificate could also prove worthy gift substitutes.

Do not completely deprive yourself. Valentine's Day is a time for laughter, fun and food. Having a small slice of cake or a couple truffles will not lead to weight gain. Moderation is key. And if you do pop the lid off that box of chocolates this Valentine's Day, don't feel guilty. Research indicates chocolate is chock-full of healthy compounds and may actually help prevent heart disease, enhance immune systems and give us a feeling of well-being.

Consider dining in this year. A great way to save calories, money and avoid crowds. Find an easy reduced calorie meal that you can cook with or for your significant other at home. Rent some romantic movies and make a healthy dessert, like strawberry shortcake sprinkled with your favorite low-calorie sweetener, and enjoy!

 

*That’s all for this week kids! Stay tuned as we are going to launch Coach Craig’s “12 Success Goals” article next week in Coaches Corner! We will feature a Goal each week that YOU, our reader can use throughout your fitness and healthy lifestyle training! It will be very valuable in mentoring you towards your goals and success in your healthy lifestyle changes as it is a method based on a 35 year study from a Sports Psychologist that has proven to help athletes perform at their peak performance levels!

 

**Also coming up: watch for our Success stories posted on our blog as well! These are REAL PEOPLE who have reached (or are near reaching) their weight loss goals on the VISI Trimma weight loss product and want to share their insight, tips, experience with all of YOU! Each month, we will feature a PRIZE WINNER from the group of people selected to post their stories for us to read! (each month there will be a different prize) If you are interested in sharing YOUR VISI success story with us, please feel free to inbox us and we will be happy to give you the full contest details! For those of you who are just receiving the VISI Trimma weight loss product and are aiming to lose those unwanted pounds, this is PERFECT for you! We love our fans and customers and want to share in your VICTORY! Watch for Michelle Wilson’s amazing story coming up this week!

*Not sure what Visi is? Check out the "About - General Information" section of our Facebook Page, "Weigh to Goal" and contact Craig or Candice and we will provide you with the info! Please feel free to send us a message through our inbox on our Page or phone us at: 780-569-4466 (Craig) or 780-782-7399 (Candice) and we will aim to get back to you in a timely manner. In addition, if you know anyone who wants to lose weight and gain energy, refer them to our page and we will be happy to help! Link to our page is: https://www.facebook.com/WeighToGoal?ref=hl#!/WeighToGoal

 

Visit: http://www.caloriecontrol.org/recipes-for-a-healthy-lifestyle for tips, recipes, and articles to help keep you on track!