Your Perfect Body

Supermodel Marisa Miller

Most models claim that they don’t exercise or eat healthy food. For some models, this is true, and for others, it is not. The models from the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, however, say that they work out regularly and adhere to a strict diet weeks before the show. Don’t worry that viewers saw Marisa Miller chowing down on a Krispy Kreme backstage in the hair and makeup room. Regardless, it is undeniable that models were born beautiful and born thin. You too, were born beautiful and born with a certain body type. You may not be able to strut your stuff on the catwalk or change your body type, but there are steps you can take to achieve your perfect body.

The Seasonal Seven

The average weight gain between Thanksgiving and the New Year is seven pounds. Most people are interested in losing weight—not gaining it. There are many aspects of the holiday season that make weight gain seem inevitable: shorter, darker days, added stress, holiday parties with holiday goodies, increased alcohol intake, and the ever-intensifying desire for comfort food. Not to mention, when the temperature drops and the weather turns frigid, your body instinctively stores fat in an attempt to keep you warm.

5 Habits for a Healthy Holiday

With so much working against you, it’s a struggle not to gain weight during the holidays, but you can avoid the Seasonal Seven. Here are five easy tricks to keep the pounds off this holiday season:

• Enjoy holiday food in moderation. Avoid overindulging on holiday treats. By all means, go ahead and enjoy your favorite holiday goody, but have one—not three. The same is true for holiday beverages. Not only will passing on that extra glass of eggnog save your gut, it can save you from doing something silly at your company holiday party.

• Keep a food journal. Most people are completely unaware of how many calories they actually consume during the holidays. Keeping track of what you eat and drink will help you maintain perspective on your daily food intake. Remember that it takes about 3500 calories to make a pound. 3500 calories may not sound like a lot, but after a few cookies, a few drinks, a plateful of hoer d’ oeuvres, and a typical holiday meal, you have more than surpasses the 3500 mark.

• Be active for TWENTY MINUTES each day. Play with your kids, walk your dog, do jumping jacks, anything. The cold weather makes your body pack on the fat, but the cold weather also helps you burn calories faster: if you exercise when it’s cold outside, you will burn more calories because your body has to work harder to stay warm.

• Chew gum. If you love to cook and bake, try chewing gum while you’re preparing the food. Chewing gum will prevent you from snacking on those high-calorie goodies and you won’t get fat licking the last bit of brownie batter from the bowl—you know you’ve done it. You can also chew gum at a holiday party to avoid eating all those fatty snacks that don’t really taste that good anyway.

• Relax. Taking time to enjoy yourself during the holidays is so important. You probably spend too much time worrying about foolish things like what you’re going to wear to a party or how you’re going to survive another encounter with the in-laws. Too much stress causes an increase cortisol, a stress hormone, and cortisol has been linked to belly fat. Santa is cute with a belly, but you’re not. So make sure you get in some good ol’ rest and relaxation.

The Cost of Health

The tips listed above are easy and free, but you know that staying healthy isn’t easy and free. Gym memberships are one of the first things to go when people decide to trim their personal budgets. However, a gym membership is more like a personal investment; staying fit now will prevent you from numerous (and costly) health problems in the future. Buying healthy food at the grocery store can also take a toll on your checkbook. The value menu at your favorite fast food restaurant is cheaper and more convenient, but your butt and thighs will hate you for it later. Then you can never be a Victoria’s Secret model! All jokes aside, getting your perfect, healthy body by eating right and staying fit is well worth the cost. Payday loans can help if you’re having trouble paying for those healthy groceries, or any other bill for that matter. Payday loans can help take the weight off your shoulders and your hips.

Approach the holiday season with a different mindset

‘Tis the season to be jolly: another turkey, another Black Friday, and another time to learn how to use quick payday loans responsibly. Shopping during the holidays is nothing less than stressful. You want to find the best deals, get the goods before they’re sold out, and there is always an underlying pressure to make sure everyone gets exactly what they want. This holiday season is different because of the slow economy, which means you will need to approach this holiday shopping season with a different mindset.

Extreme Discounts

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the official kick-off for the holiday shopping season, boasts sales and doorbuster deals that are certain to get shoppers out of bed and into the store. But this year, retailers can’t be so certain. Both retailers and consumers are fearful of this year’s holiday shopping season, and they are worried for exactly the same reason: there is less money to be spent. Consumers will be working with tighter budgets, and with that in mind, the retailers are trying harder than ever to entice customers to make a purchase. That’s why the leaked Black Friday ads from major retailers like Wal-Mart and Sears are offering such extreme discounts. However, simply because something is marked at half price does not mean you can afford it. It’s not a good deal if you can’t really afford it.

Make a Budget

Budgeting is always a smart money move, but this time of year, a budget is imperative. You need to sit down before Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and all the holiday madness to calculate what you can afford to spend this year. Be sure to prioritize things like bills and groceries over seasonal items and gifts. You should leave a little extra for anything unexpected because the holidays tend to bring surprises of all kinds. Once you make a budget, stick to it. Don’t spend more money on gifts than you can afford, no matter how great of a deal you come across.

A Change of Focus

Chances are the budget you create won’t leave a lot of leeway for buying gifts, but believe it or not, that is okay. The holidays, and America in general, have become increasingly materialistic. Americans are so accustomed to associating things with happiness. But haven’t you always heard that money can’t buy you happiness? With that being said, this year is the perfect year to shift the focus of the holidays. Don’t spend too much time worrying about money and gifts. Make the holidays what they should be by being thankful for what you do have and focusing on family and friends.

Smart Shopping

This is not meant to deter you from shopping altogether this holiday season because, let’s face it, Black Friday has practically become its own holiday. This article is meant to help you become a smart shopper. A smart shopper makes purchases within her means and has no qualms with passing up an “unbeatable” deal. Most importantly, a smart shopper would never take out quick payday loans to help cover the costs of unnecessary gifts. The smart shopper knows that quick payday loans are available to her as a responsible way to pay for other bills or surprise expenses that come along with the holiday season.