Losing Weight Before Christmas - 5 Steps to Losing 14lbs by December

There's still time if you're reading this pre-November, that you have just a month to go before December kicks in to look great this Christmas and avoid also putting on those unwanted pounds by January.

Step 1:

Cut the fat, apart from the healthy fats found in fish, notably salmon and sardines.

Unhealthy fats contain twice the calories than the same weight of starch or protein, plus fats keep you the least satiated of all, meaning the stay fuller for shorter periods and are then prone to the odd craving or binge.

Step 2:

Make one third of your diet just protein rich but two thirds plant based.

That means that you feast on beans, bread, pasta, rice, fruits and vegetables as the main, not secondary part of the meal.

Step 3:

Consume high water based foods.

Foods like stews, soups and broths will be gentler on the waistline while they are ultimately high volume, low calorie meals and you can also trick your stomach into believing you are fuller longer by drinking a pint of water before each main course.

Step 4:

Pick high fiber foods whenever possible.

Fiber is one of those rare compounds that contains zero calories, so while very filling it's not at all fattening.

Eating fibrous foods can also be quite a lengthy process meaning you're forced to take your time, plus fiber takes longer to digest so you will again curb your appetite, while fending off the fridge stops.

Step 5:

The best part is to not cut down on low fat sauces of protein like grilled chicken, lean meat and fish.

Eating lean protein is a wonderful way to gain prolonged energy that doesn't deliver energy crashes and peaks, but continued periods of power.

Lean protein also suppresses hunger.

How much will you lose sticking to this pre-Christmas diet?

It's never advisable to consume less than 1200 calories a day, but by sticking to this diet, expect to lose a few pounds a week, so from now through to Christmas, anything from over half a stone to a stone, or 10 to 14 pounds.

By following this diet, it won't hamper your weight loss objectives by kick starting your appetite into starvation mode when Christmas arrives, plus you'll still be able to eat fantastically well balanced meals, such as cereals and fruits in the morning, bread and soups for lunch followed by say a large veggie stew or salmon curry and rice for dinner and still hover around the 1200 calorie mark.