One answer to this is to forget the diet until the new year and start again then!!!

This might lead to you feeling down after the holiday period is over so we have put together a list of the most popular holiday foods so you can be aware of what to avoid in excess! (calories per 100g)

Don’t feel that you have to indulge just because it’s Christmas, be sensible and don’t eat more than normal. Try not to eat too many nibbles such as nuts and chocolates, and stick to drinks like wine with soda, rather than creamy liquers.

Fit in as much exercise as possible, get on the dance floor at parties, and go for a refreshing walk after big meals! More importantly have a brilliant Christmas and enjoy yourselves! But do go easy on the exclamation marks!!!

It is a basic equation that the less we eat and the better we eat, the slimmer we will be. The important thing isn’t to be as thin as possible, we all need to be a healthy weight, and learn to love our own bodies.

Firstly, set yourself a realistic target. Aim to lose around 1-2 lb per week with a combination of diet and exercise, this way the weight will stay off permanently. At Calorie Counter we encourage you to adapt to a way of eating which is healthy and enjoyable, not unrealistic. This way you can relax and allow yourself treat when you feel like it. See this as a change of lifestyle which you can keep up, rather than a punishing diet.

Once you have your goal, go to the supermarket and stock up on fruit, vegetables, lean meat, whole foods (like brown bread, rice, pasta and beans) Stick to a low fat, high fibre diet. Make sure your meals are made up of fresh, grilled, poached and stir-fried foods. Look at the fat and calorie contents on packaged food and avoid those with high values. We all know the foods that are bad for us, pizza, burgers, sausages, chips, so be sensible and have these in moderation. Stay off crisps, chocolate, cakes and biscuits while you are dieting, allowing yourself the odd treat to minimise the chances of a binge! Snack on dried fruit, veggies and drink lots of water or diet soft drinks.

Eat three meals a day, and avoid snacking in between (see menu planner for meal ideas.)

If you don’t feel ready to bare all just yet, or just fancy some tasty summer food this page has some ideas from the team. Summer is a great time for healthy eating as we crave comfort foods less, eat outdoors and the shops are full of fresh fruit and veggies.
If you are going away, take care of yourself particually well for a couple of weeks before so you feel your best on the beach and can indulge in a few ice creams and sangrias!
Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts!!

Summer Salads

Salads are brilliant for sunny days, they offer so much variety and can be easily packed up for picnics. Here are some ideas for tasty ingredients:
Vegetables
Mushrooms, lettuce, cherry tomatoes. plum tomatoes, beef tomatoes, sweetcorn, cauliflower, tomato, radish, cress, celery, chicory, aparagus, potatoes, beetroot, courgette, carrots, avacado, cabbage, chinese leaves, onions, peppers, chillies, chives
Fruit
Apple, pear, rasperries, grapes, raisins, peaches, nectarines, orange, olives
To have with salad
cottage cheese, low fat cheese, cold sliced meat, chicken legs, low calorie coleslaw, tuna, brown bread, crispbread, rice cakes, pitta, bagels, rice, pasta, soup.

Barbeques

Summer barbies may be a challenge for the serious dieter! Make this your main meal of the day and only eat til you feel full, avoid going back to the barbeque and picking! Fill your plate with salad and bread, and go for chicken and fish rather than burgers and sausage!

Alcohol

There’s nothing we like better than sitting out in the sun with a beer on a hot day. If you are dieting, stick to long drinks like wine with soda, to make them last longer. If you are eating out too, too much beer can destroy your willpower so be careful, but have fun too!

Looking good in the sun!

Summer can be a nightmare if you’re feeling a bit overweight, but it’s also the perfect time to eat lots of salad and get out and do some exercise. In the meantime, give yourself a boost with lots of body brushing, and rub on some fake tan. Make sure you cover up in the sun and wear plenty of sun cream!

BREAKFAST

Breakfast, say many, is the most important meal of the day, and we agree! By starting the day with a filling and nutritious meal you give your metabolism a kick start. You will feel full all the way up to lunchtime, therefore avoiding the temptation of that mid morning snack. Here are some healthy breakfast ideas:

• Bowl of cereal, avoid sugary ones, go for wholegrain and use skimmed milk
• Fruit Juice compliments breakfast and gives you your first serving of fruit for the day
• Wholemeal toast, top with a poached egg, grilled bacon,mushrooms and low fat spread
• Bagels are very low in fat, use some reduced sugar jam
• Chopped up fruit such as apple, banana, pear, topped with natural yoghurt

LUNCH

What you have for lunch often depends on your circumstances. It is better to eat a fairly substantial meal at lunch time to fuel you through the afternoon. If you work it is a good idea to take a healthy packed lunch with you. If your job involves lots of pub lunches, avoid alcohol if you’re watching your weight and order something fresh and low fat.

• Salad is very filling and can be varied with different veg, cold meat, cottage cheese, etc
• Sandwiches of whole grain bread with low fat meats, soft cheese, tuna and salad veg
• Crispbreads, rice cakes, rye crackers are very tasty and low in calories
• Fresh Fruit, pots of yoghurt for something sweet afterwards
• Low Calorie soups are filling and warming on colder days, serve with brown bread

DINNER

Dinner can often be a sociable and enjoyable occasion, if you eat out avoid fatty foods and creamy sauces. When preparing your own foods the possibilities are endless. Try and make the weeks menu balanced with a mixture of meat, if you eat it, vegetables and carbohydrates such as rice and pasta.

• Grilled lean steak with new potatoes, broccoli, carrots or other vegetables or salad.
• Veg stir fry with leek, beansprout, cabbage, carrot, pepper, mushrooms and noodles
• Grilled white fish with mashed potatoes, peas and skimmed milk parsley sauce
• Pasta with tomato and pepper sauce and garlic bread made with low fat spread
• Ham and Pineapple thin crust pizza with mixed salad and low calorie coleslaw
• Jacket potato with baked beans, tuna and low fat grated cheese
• Chicken Tikka Masala with rice and small piece of naan

If you enjoy desert, stick to fruit and low fat options such as yoghurt, fromage frais, low fat custard, low fat rice pudding etc. Allow yourself a treat every so often but don’t eat puddings and cakes after every meal. If you drink alcohol with your meal try and limit it to a couple of glasses of wine.