Avoid holiday pounds and maintain a healthy weight with Medical Weight Loss Clinic

We’re in that challenging stretch of time between Thanksgiving and the New Year. It’s a time when the average American gains a few extra pounds. But with Medical Weight Loss Clinic, it’s possible to avoid any weight gain - and even lose extra pounds, if you’re looking to do so.

Learn how to eat healthy and maximize your energy without gaining weight this holiday season. Medical Weight Loss Clinic professionals like Mary Pierce, our Ann Arbor clinic manager, have the answers and support you need.

Mary Pierce, manager at Medical Weight Loss Clinic’s Ann Arbor location, says that now is the time to dive into a dynamic maintenance program. Mary has worked with Medical Weight Loss Clinic in a variety of roles for 31 years. She knows just how to help patients lose or maintain a healthy weight. In fact, nearly 30 percent of her patients in Ann Arbor are currently on a maintenance program.

Here are a few of Mary’s tips to stay healthy, happy and energized throughout the holiday season:

·      Be sure to eat your breakfast. Rev your metabolism up at the start of the day and eat consistent meals to avoid those hunger pangs and to keep you feeling great. If you’re expecting to have a busier day than usual, eat a bigger breakfast to stay fuller, longer.

·      Remember - there’s a 20 minute delay between your stomach and your head. That means by the time you’re hungry, you’ve been hungry for a while. And if you eat too quickly, you might eat more than you need and feel too full and tired. So, instead of rushing through a meal, focus on your food. Chew bites thoroughly and slowly. Fill a smaller plate. And eat on time so you don’t over-eat.

·      Break the cycle. When we’re stressed, we tend to reach for high fat foods that actually make us more tired. Stick to healthy foods and a regular schedule and you’ll see your energy soar.

“Our patients change their habits,” Mary  says. “They start looking at food differently. Energy increases and they are happier.”

There’s a strong connection between our eating and exercise habits and how we feel. At Medical Weight Loss Clinic, professionals - like Mary – help our patients one-on-one to fit these into their lifestyle. When it comes to exercise it’s not how much you do necessarily it’s how often you do it, she says. When patients adopt the proper eating plan, they obtain much more energy and stamina. And that makes exercise easier to incorporate into a regular habit.

“At Medical Weight Loss Clinic we help you find the right balance so you can burn fat for energy,” she adds. “You’ll lose inches just where you need to.”

These tips all make maintaining a healthy weight that much easier. Medical Weight Loss Clinic offers one-year dynamic maintenance programs that help patients navigate challenges in every season, so those new habits stick.

Are your ready to reach your ideal weight and stay there with Medical Weight Loss Clinic? Sign up for a free consultation today at mwlc.com to learn more about it.

WATCH: Healthy holiday food ideas featured on Fox 2 Detroit

Yes! You can add healthy foods into the mix during the holidays. Our Medical Weight Loss Clinic nutritionist and regional manager, Krysta Sauvie, joined Fox 2 Detroit’s Deena Centofanti to walk through some healthy food swap ideas for the holidays.

Krysta also spoke about the free Medical Weight Loss Clinic Healthy Holiday cookbook that is filled with recipes you can use.

How to keep portion control in check during the holidays

‘Tis the season for overindulgence! Or is it? At Medical Weight Loss Clinic, we never encourage our patients to indulge in foods outside their program in the weight loss phase, even during the holidays. And to help you stay on track with your health and weight loss goals, we have several tips for how to manage portion control through the holiday season challenges.

Make the holidays brighter by practicing portion control and sticking to your health goals.

The Holiday Party

Certified wellness practitioner and MWLC Community Relations Director Tracy Strieter suggests that you wear a party outfit that’s a bit on the snug side so that you don’t feel like you have endless room to expand by eating too much. Also, choose wisely when it comes to liquid calories! Start with sparkling water and find a place to socialize away from the snacks.

If the event is later in the day and you’re likely to be famished, have a small, high-protein snack before you arrive to take the edge off your appetite and leave you with room for better choices.

The Office Break Room

This is an area that can be tough any time of the year, but especially during the holidays with cookies, cakes and more sweets finding their way there. Your best option? Avoid these areas whenever possible and bring your own healthy snacks to work. Fill up on fresh veggies and fruit, whole grain crackers and air-popped popcorn. “Keeping your tummy filled with the good stuff will help you be less likely to snack out of desperation throughout the day,” Tracy says.

Family Festivities

There are sure to be many less-than-healthy foods at your family celebrations. Do yourself — and your family members — a favor and contribute a healthy dish or snack to share! Stay away from seconds and use your calories wisely on special foods, rather than those you can have anytime of the year. And when you host, be careful about grazing while you cook, and cut back on the fat and sugar in your meals.

Seasonal Goodies

Again, we encourage you to avoid foods that are outside your plan, no matter the occasion. When you do opt to snack, Tracy suggests that you use a plate so that you eat less and enjoy it more. You can also use the 2-tablespoon rule: Choose one or two items that you have to have and take 2 tablespoons of it. “This way, you don’t feel deprived but are still in control of portions,” Tracy says. Finally, if you can take it or leave it, you’re better off leaving it.

To take control of your weight loss with a program and support that will help you stay focused on your goals all year, contact Medical Weight Loss Clinic. Schedule your free consultation online or by calling 1-800-GET-SLIM today.