NOTE FROM MIKE – This is Part II of a series of special guest posts from Dr. Don Colbert (Part I is HERE).  Please read his bio on the bottom of this entry…it’s quite impressive and I’m honored to have him contribute to the Social Media Slim-Down!  His generosity extends beyond just writing posts – he has donated copies of his new book, Dr. Colbert’s “I CAN Do This” Diet, to the cause.  Everyone who “checks-in” with their weight-loss on Monday, Jan. 25, by midnight EST, will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of the book!  So spread the word, check-in, and slim-down!

Guest Post by Dr. Don Colbert

Judging by this week’s numbers, it looks like the Social Media Slim Down group is off to a great start. But, football-watching parties, continuing cold temperatures and other outside factors may start to adversely impact your eating and fitness routine. If you find yourself struggling with your healthy lifestyle goals, hopefully these tips will help you stay on the right track:

Eat at the right times. One of the most important principles of the “I can do this” diet is to eat three meals a day, with no carbohydrates after 6 p.m. That’s because these three meals provide the fuel your body needs at the times it needs the fuel most. The most important of these three fueling times is breakfast—a meal many people often skip.

Eat healthy snacks. The correct fuel mixture at meals should control your hunger for three to four hours. Yet most people go longer than that between meals, allowing their blood sugar to drop and causing a noticeable decrease in energy and mental clarity. The right mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks will enable you to remain hunger-free and productive for several hours, and a snack an hour before bed will help ensure restful sleep.

Control your portion size. Most Americans eat more of what they eat than is healthy for them. We have become accustomed to ignoring serving sizes on food labels and eating the amount we’ve trained our stomachs and brains to demand. It’s time to exercise some portion control! (Especially at those football parties!)

Engage in physical activity. Exercise is essential, especially for anyone hoping to lose pounds. You can restrict your diet and eat less than your daily requirement, yet without burning off calories through physical activity, you have only half the equation.

Take safe weight-loss supplements. A weight-loss supplement is a nutritional product or herb intended to assist your healthy eating and activity plan with the ultimate goal of losing weight. A supplement comes alongside; it does not replace.

Following these lifestyle principles will provide many benefits beyond weight loss, including improving your overall health, managing stress and preventing stress-related eating. In fact, it is the best program you can be on during not only the good times, but also the most chaotic times of your life. Good luck as you continue with the Social Media Slim Down.

Don Colbert, MD, is board-certified in family practice and anti-aging medicine. He has also received extensive training in nutritional and preventive medicine. Colbert is the author of the New York Times best-selling book The Seven Pillars of Health, as well as best sellers Toxic Relief, the Bible Cure series, and Eat This and Live! His most recent book, Dr. Colbert’s “I Can Do This” Diet (thecandodiet.com), released January 5.