Over the summer I gave you some tips on staying fit once you had gotten your great results. We were constantly getting testimonials and feedback from the 6 Week Beach Body Program that I wanted to share some “tricks” that I use to stay slim so all of you who have been dropping weight with us since the summer could keep on track easily! Well now I have another tip.
Recently I have been reading “French Women Don’t Get Fat” by Mireille Guiliano. I have known about the book for years but have not gotten around to reading it until now. (I have a feeling that as I start writing my book, I am also going to be reading a lot more books period!)
It’s a very cute book-several times throughout it I thought “I must be French!” And even though I don’t fully agree with everything she says, her overall points are great and are underutilized here in the US for sure.
One of the points she makes that I have been doing for years without identifying it as a strategic behavior for me is how to eat in line with the seasons but also the time of day. Since the winter brings us heartier vegetables like squash, potatoes and pumpkin, people often are concerned with winter weight gain.
With the likelihood that winter also brings less movement (unless you do winter sports or live in CA), it makes sense that we might have this concern. How I have always balanced my daily intake of calories during the winter, and what Mirelle Guiliano is calling “very French”, is to make soups!
Yes, soup!
And homemade preferably, not out of a can. During the winter, I love making my vegetable nut soup. Soups are hearty but also provided loads of vitamins and minerals from more vegetables than I would eat in one sitting every day.
Making a soup is a great way to get in those veggies you don’t eat often. Having soup for dinner balances out the calories over the day and warms your insides as you wind down for the day.
In fact, she inspired me to make a chicken rice soup today! I got to use the leftover parsley, onions, garlic, carrots and celery from my Thanksgiving preparations. We had some chicken to use and I was getting bored with chicken dinners so I thought how perfect! And the weather has been chilly lately so I needed some internal warmth for dinner.
So one of the secrets to staying slim is to incorporate soups regularly into your diet. If you make them homemade, they most likely will be healthier and enjoyed more for the effort and care you put in. Plus, making soup is fun! It’s a one pot meal!
Next week, I will share a few favorite soup recipes like this chicken rice I made today. Until then, happy soup making!
Written by JJ Flizanes of Invisible Fitness. www.invisiblefitness.com, Creator of the 6 Week Beach Body, 90 Day Health and Body Makevoer Program, The 30 Day JUMP Start Program and more! 800 571 5722
