Having a baby right before Christmas has given me the great benefit of all those post-holiday weight loss tips, that I can, and have, used to minimize my post baby belly. Here are the most successful ideas I've found that trick me into thinking I really don't need that apple fritter.

First, you can check out my entries on easy ways to incorporate exercise and hydration into your lifestyle; two very important factors to losing the weight. Next, I recommend reading “Why French Women Don't Get Fat,” by Mireille Guilano.  It's a delightful read, a great find for foodies who need to curb cravings. It introduces the (gasp) healthy concept of balance; of rewards and deprivations. It managed to get across the concept to me, that life is delicious, and dieting is a journey. There are no mistakes, only diversions that can easily be remedied. As a self described “foodie” cutting back on calories is a horrific thought for me. But I found some things that make it seem less a sacrifice.

       *Count your calories. This is only a temporary thing. Trust me, you won't have to count them forever. It's only a beginning until you truly get a feel for portion sizes, and how much goes into what you eat. Get a scale for weighing your food, (I found one for around $12) and you'll be able to make your own 100 calorie portioned bags of pretzels, popcorn, prunes, and other yummy things to have in your car for emergencies. Also, be familiar with online calorie counting sites. You can google to find the one you like best. I really like the about.com calorie site. There, for free, you can start your own online calorie journal, create a profile, and enter in your favorite recipes to see how many calories are in your them. A trainer told me to take your ideal weight and eat 10x as many calories. So if you want to be 130 pounds, eat 1300 calories a day. If you find yourself tired or lethargic, add a hundred, and go from there.

      *Create a food journal. Your friends and spouse will think your nuts. Who cares. Take a small, journal, (small enough to fit in your purse, but big enough to write in and not lose,) and keep a pen on hand at all times. Trust me. This is very important. Write everything you eat down. Not only does this highlight problem areas, (like sweet tooth cravings or late night binges,) but it helps keep yourself accountable for what you eat. You'll be tempted to skip writing something down that isn't the greatest choice calorie wise. But don't do it. Be honest with yourself and stay strong.

       *Prepare food at home. Eating out will sabotage you. Cooking at home is much healthier, cheaper, and by far tastier than anything you can get in a drive through or at a restaurant. Add to this, keeping your kitchen clean and organized will encourage your efforts. I'm no Martha, but I know I can't cook unless the dishes are washed, the stove is clean and the groceries are put away.

      *Reward yourself. Give yourself a meal a week where you won't count calories. Make it on a Sunday if you watch football, or like to have big family dinners. Remember, it's a meal, not an entire 24 hours.

      *Keep emergency food on hand for starving moments.

               -Prunes: Five of these are only 100 calories, and have the fiber to keep you full. Just pound a glass of water after you dig in and wait for the hunger to pass.

               -Popcorn: I prefer the air popped stuff because microwaves make me anxious. In any case, avoid butter and salt and try adding things like sprinkled cinnamon, (excellent for high cholesterol), garlic powder, paprika or apple cider vinegar, (this last one makes it soggy so if textures bug you, you may skip it.) It takes a lot of popcorn to equal 100 calories. Follow with a glass of water and wait to feel satisfied.

               -Pears. Throw them in the oven, sliced or cored and split in two. Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg or both. Bake until soft. You've got yourself a great dessert, only 100 calories in a cup serving, and over 5 grams of fiber. Great for those nights you just have to have something sweet after dinner.

Think of things that make you full and go from there. A ½ baked potato stuffed with broccoli and sprinkled lightly with cheddar cheese, is under 200 calories and will stuff you. Add a half boneless, skinless chicken breast at 110 calories, and you have a HUGE dinner. Start meals with a cup of soup. They fill you up and have fewer calories than bread. Try to stick to clear based soups with veggies to get maximum impact.

Speaking of soups, Progresso rocks! One can of the chicken noodle soup has only 200 calories. You can have half a can with a slice of Sarah Lee 45 calorie bread, and you'll be stuffed...for 145 calories! Take it to work along with your ziplock 100 calorie bags of prunes, pretzels and popcorn, and you won't be tempted by those golden arches on your way home

Think of things that make you full and go from there. A ½ baked potato stuffed with broccoli and sprinkled lightly with cheddar cheese, is under 200 calories and will stuff you. Add a half boneless, skinless chicken breast at 110 calories, and you have a HUGE dinner. Start meals with a cup of soup. They fill you up and have fewer calories than bread. Try to stick to clear based soups with veggies to get maximum impact.

Stick to regular coffee. Cut out the lattes and sodas and only drink black coffee and water. Ween yourself away from the cream and sugar a little each day. Getting good coffee will help.

      *Have regular meals, three times a day. Don't skip breakfast! I have a cup of Fiber One cereal each morning with a half cup whole milk, (I find it's so much better for me than the non fat stuff.) I also love the Fiber One bars that have yummy chocolate chips in them and 9 grams of fiber. (Yes, I eat a lot of fiber.)

Don't deprive yourself. If you want a reese's peanut butter cup, break down the calorie content, and save for it. Telling yourself you can never eat candy again will sabotage your efforts.

Basically, add a lot more fruit and veggies in your diet, find out what an actual portion of meat is and stick to it, (keep it less than the size of your palm), and wait before you reach for sugars. If you need chocolate, stick to the good kind, the darker the better.

After time, you'll start to get a feel for what your body actually needs versus what your mouth wants. Then you can ween away from the counting and be more “French” about it.

Here are some favorite websites of mine that have great information, tips and recipes.

Hungry girl  (So many great recipes and tips on this site.  Worth an exploration!)

about.com  (The free online diet resource place, with calorie content, recipe entries, and more.)

dottie's guide to eating out  (This has nutritional information on tons of restaurants.)

I'm not a nutritionist or a doctor by any means. Always ask you doctor's advice before starting any weight loss plan. Please be careful, listen to your body, and don't be an obsessive freak about it. It's boring to always talk about calories. But I love to discuss exceptional food. I welcome your tips and ideas as well. Good luck!