Featured Skin CLINIC
by Karen D. Jennings

You can send your questions about skin care to clinic@kdjskincare.com or
mail them to P.O. Box 2635  Costa Mesa, CA  92628-2635

How Can I Control My Appetite During the Holidays?

Dear Karen,

There is nothing like the holidays, the beauty, the festivities, the joy. What ruins it all for me is all the calories; increased calories during the holidays equals increased fat. Every year during this time I gain weight. My appearance radically changes and not for the better. It starts usually a week before Thanksgiving when the desserts are being prepared for our huge turkey dinner. Once all that is over, there is little time to recover before the Christmas parties begin, and I mean one right after the other. They are held during the week and on weekends and continue until after Christmas. Each party has delicious appetizers and petite pastries that are filled with hundreds of calories. Each and every year, for a short moment, I don’t worry about calories and forget how dangerous the little pastries truly are, because of their small size. I return to the trays for seconds and thirds, only to pay the price for overindulging in the weeks that follow. As the weight packs on, my energy level declines. I feel exhausted, which causes me to skip my daily exercise routine at the gym. By mid December I’m stuffing my body into my size 6 clothes and feeling very uncomfortable – it is not a pretty picture. I feel very self-conscious; I’m out of control and hate my looks. I look dumpy. My skin even looks dull and ruddy. What is truly ironic about this whole situation is that this is the time of year when I want to look my best for my friends and family and yet I look just the opposite. I’m tired of always going down this road of destruction and disaster every year. What can I do to help curb my appetite and keep me in control during the holidays?

-Kristin, Mission Viejo, CA

Dear Kristin,

There is definitely no other time of year like Thanksgiving and Christmas. They are probably the most fulfilling and exciting holidays of the year. No other time of year has festivities that encompass our lives like these two holidays. For most of us, they bring joy and happiness, but for others, desperation and guilt can occur from all their overindulging in food and drink. It takes a lot of self-control to watch the calories during this time of year, but it can be done. Holiday events seem to offer up almost every type of high fat dish and sometimes it is hard to tell exactly what you are eating or how many calories it contains. The best thing to do is, before stepping into any social event, eat healthy throughout the day so you are not hungry and won’t be tempted to gorge. During the day, eat a lot of food with fiber, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. This will help control the cravings. Also be sure to include in your daily supplements some Omega-3. Many people don’t realize that Omega-3 actually helps to block the fat and curb your appetite. It reduces body fat, decreases appetite, lowers insulin levels, increases energy levels, increases skin’s radiance, reduces blood pressure, reduces fat levels in the blood, promotes healthy serotonin levels, stabilizes blood sugar levels, helps maintain muscle mass, and improves the immune system. Colostrum and Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) also help to build muscle and reduce fat.

If you need serious help curbing the appetite, you can try Super Citrimax (patented, all natural), which contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA), an extract from South Asian fruit, Garcinia cambogia, bound to essential minerals calcium and potassium. This powerful supplement has been clinically proven to decrease appetite, burn fat, and reduce body fat 3 times faster than diet and exercise alone. It has been noted to be safe and effective but not meant to be a miracle cure. You still need to find some will power of your own. Also, be sure to drink 8-10 glasses of purified water daily. The water will also suppress your appetite and help stop the cravings.

If you want to keep your skin in top shape and keep it looking young and healthy, be sure to always use a quality skin care line daily – One of the most important investments you’ll ever make. The line should include a 12% AHA (lactic acid) treatment, retinol (vitamin A), and an anti-aging moisturizer containing vitamins C & E and chlorella to firm and smooth out wrinkles, franesol to help balance the skin’s hydration, and hyaluronic acid and a Lipid Barrier Blend to keep it super hydrated and protected. Remember, if you want to be in control of your life (weight and appearance), you must first learn to take control of your life on a daily basis. I guarantee that you will always feel better when you look great.

For more information about skin care, please write to us at P.O. Box 2635, Costa Mesa, CA 92628 or call us at 949-481-9185.

© Karen Jennings 2007

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