The first months of the year, between the winter holidays and the arrival of spring, are one of the “favorite” periods of the year for weight loss diets. After the season of colds and hearty holiday meals, many of us want to lose weight – many diets start in the first days of the year – but the problem is that most want to suddenly lose extra pounds and achieve the desired figure overnight. There’s nothing wrong with that, Ligia Alexandrescu, consultant in sports nutrition, nutrition education and nutrition communication, explains to HotNews.ro. But what are the secrets of an effective and healthy diet during this period?

Sudden diets, typical for the beginning of the year

Even in the first days of January and before the arrival of spring, in many cases, we are talking about sudden diets, emphasizes nutritionist Ligia Alexandrescu.

Is it necessary to visit a nutritionist to lose weight in a healthy way? Not necessarily, is the answer of nutritionist Ligia Alexandrescu: “The first doctor is the patient himself – everyone knows best what suits him. Maybe it needs a bit of tweaking because some things change hormonally – with age the metabolic rate goes down and then maybe there are still some things to clear up. But otherwise, everyone knows better what suits him better.”

Lihiia Alexandrescu, sports nutrition, nutrition education and nutrition communication consultant

January is recognized as the month of sudden diets, after the holidays, and some of those who did not start “chasing weight” back in January, do so in February, when the arrival of spring is approaching. This is how many people go – or at least try to do so – from a surplus of food to starvation. Fasting should be the last option we consider when trying to lose extra pounds. A diet should not mean fasting under any circumstances, emphasizes nutritionist Ligia Alexandrescu: “The last concept we should use in a diet is fasting. After the food avalanche, during the winter and holidays, a sudden decrease in the number of calories, that is, the energy value of the food we consume, means an imbalance for the body and especially for immunity.

Obviously, we must not forget that any diet is much more effective in combination with physical exercises and sports.

Food that keeps you hungry, not fat

But how to eat a balanced and healthy diet and at the same time begin to lose extra pounds? “Of course, we will not continue eating at the same pace as before, if we have accumulated extra kilograms. But we won’t start feeding ourselves with water and yogurt when it’s cold outside,” says nutritionist Ligia Alexandrescu.

What specifically can you eat during this period to get rid of extra pounds? During the diet, many people eat lean meat on the grill with a salad, but after winter, when a lot of meat is traditionally consumed, this is not the happiest option: “First of all, you can exclude meat, which is replaced with less salty cheese. After so much meat consumed in the winter and especially during the holidays, baked vegetables with a small amount of cheese are welcome,” advises Ligia Alexandrescu.

What can we eat instead? “It is better to choose baked vegetables with a small amount of cheese. For example, cauliflower soufflé, with an egg and a small amount of mozzarella or sweet cheese. It is a very filling food that satisfies hunger and is rich in fiber. Basically, the immune system is balanced.”

Diet / Photo: Motortion | Dreamstime.com

At the end of winter, you can completely give up meat for a while

But do we completely give up meat during this period? What does the nutritionist say? “We’re putting off meat for a while because we’ve just gone through a period where we ate a lot of meat. Of course, we can also eat meat from time to time. You can eat meat 2-3 times a week, including fish once.

Meat can be successfully replaced not only with less salty and low-fat cheese, but also with root vegetables – because we no longer have high-quality cucumbers and tomatoes, as in the summer. “The roots have very high energy power. Also, they help the colon, cleanse the colon, they’re high in fiber.”

Cream soups, vegetable soups, anything that means sauteed vegetables – broccoli, cauliflower – polenta with yogurt or kefir are also highly recommended: “Alkaline options, light options. Proteins are also not completely removed – milk remains, egg remains, from time to time. All meals should be rich in fiber so that we can do a general cleansing of the colon.”

Diet / Photo: Holger Gursky | Dreamstime.com

Diuretic teas help to avoid water retention

And last but not least, during this period, diuretic teas should not be missed to get rid of water retention: “They ate pickles, they ate sausages, they ate everything that means traditional food. This means lots of salt and automatic water retention. We wake up with swollen hands and feet,” Ligia Alexandrescu explains.

That’s why elderberry, raspberry or hibiscus tea can work wonders: “It helps us lose weight again on the limbs and cheeks and helps us, in about 3-4 days, quickly lose what we quickly put on.”

At least a small portion of what sometimes looks like fat is actually water retention: “Water retention can add 2-3 extra pounds. And then, with the help of an alkaline diet and teas, we manage to restore the balance,” advises nutritionist Ligia Alexandrescu.

Photo: Dreamstime.com.