Spring is already here and, like most, you may be feeling a bit ‘sluggish’ after sipping too many hot chocolates and spending your time inside during those cold weather months, but never fear because low-fat cookbook Queen, Annette Sym, has some great tips for whipping you back into shape this spring.
International award-winning author Annette Sym of the best selling Symply Too Good To be True low-fat cookbook series, Annette Sym, including the new Book 6, said spring was the best time of year to start an ‘inside-to-out makeover’.
“There are such a variety of great fresh fruits and vegetables coming into season that will not only help you to shed those extra kilos that have crept up over winter but that also have some extraordinary health benefits too,” Annette said.
Annette who struggled with her weight for years knows all too well how difficult it can be to break bad habits but managed to lose 35kgs in 20 months and maintain a healthy lifestyle for 18 years.
“In our hectic lives, it is easy to put our wellbeing on the backburner and before we know it, summer has arrived and we are panicking about putting on our swimsuit,” Annette said.
Annette believes weightloss is about learning what triggers youdesire for unhealthy foods, allowing you to break bad habits and reprogram your thinking. Here are some quick tips:
1) Write a food diary to keep on track
2) Drink 8 glasses of water each day, being hydrated can keep hunger pangs at bay
3) Spring weather makes it much easier to exercise so get your joggers on and go for a 30 minute walk
4) Everything in moderation is the key to weightloss success. Stop the bad habits you may have created over winter NOW.
5) Start eating more vegetables and salads to help keep you feeling full
“I also recommend visiting your local farmers market regularly. The vegetables sold at these types of markets seem to be fresher, more colourful and cheaper, especially if you are buying what’s season,” Annette said.
“Try incorporating more spinach into your diet, it really is a wonder food with loads of Vitamin C, A, folate, some fibre, magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium too.
“By simply reviewing eating plans and making an effort to be more active this spring, by the time summer approaches the extra effort will have paid off,” Annette said.
Here are Annette’s 4 TIPS FOR MAKING VEGGIES MORE INTERESTING:
- Try chopping up some carrots, broccoli, onion and crushed garlic and cook in a wok, add some spices or fresh herbs that you like such as Moroccan or Cajun seasoning and serve this as a side dish, certainly more interesting than boiled vegetables.
- Top your veggies with a low-fat white sauce then sprinkle a little light grated cheese over top and place under the grill until browned. YUM!
- Don’t always boil veggies, boring. Instead bake, stir fry, make veggie patties, pasties, casseroles or soups.
- The more vegetables you eat the healthier and less hungry you will feel so “veg up” and reap the benefits.
“It is so easy to take advantage of the wonderful fresh produce we have in Australia and I’m sure you will see and feel the difference,” said Annette.
Annette’s latest book, Book 6, includes a selection of Annette’s newest and most delicious recipes, a step-by-step weightloss MASTERCLASS complete with DVD, a 28-day meal plan and a number of motivational testimonials from people who have lost weight “the Annette way”.
Selling more than 3 million copies due to their undeniable ability to help people lose weight, Annette Sym’s series, Symply Too Good To Be True are available at all leading news agencies nation-wide. Books 1,2,3,4 and 5 are $13.95 and the bumper-sized Book 6 is $28.
Visit the Symply Too Good website, www.symplytoogood.com.au, for more great low-fat cooking tips and to see Annette cooking a new recipe each month.
