Photo: quickandsimple.com
Conventional wisdom (not to mention all of those trashy “health” magazines) would lead you to believe that the period of time between early November January 1st is one of sloth & gluttony. We pile on the pounds & skip exercising, emerging from a food coma on New Year’s Day to discover a lumpy, Santa-like body.
Wrong. The average American gains just one pound between Halloween & the New Year. That is it. However, this pound is different. For the average person, this pound doesn’t go away after the holidays. Seems like such a little bit of weight, but it adds up quickly. Ten pounds of perma-fat in a decade, all from holiday overindulgence.
With food always in sight, celebrations & parties every weekend, shopping & wrapping to be done, vigilance against overeating & a focus on taking time for yourself during a stressful and hectic season is a priority. Use the tips below to help guide your holiday socializing.
1. Plan your strategy before you walk out the door. If you know what is being served, create a strategy to avoid high-calorie options or visualize how good it will be to feel happily satisfied rather than uncomfortably full. Stay away from the table & focus on the people nearby.
2. Be the life, not the lush, of the party. Drinking lowers inhibition, so stick with one or two very small servings. Revel in the fact that you'll be able to show your face at the office Monday morning.
3. Ignore the advice to "eat before you go." Stick to your regular meal times, so you don't end up overeating because you're starving & can't resist those cheesy potatoes. If your dinner time is 6 & the party starts at 8, eat a smaller version of your 6pm meal, but don't think you'll be able to turn your nose up at anything if you have not eaten in 8 hours.
4. Make your non-festive meals smaller and healthier. Lowering the calorie content of your other meals (by about 100 calories) will enable you to indulge wisely without becoming over-hungry. Making your foods as nutrient-rich as possible will also help counteract the heart-unhealthiness of those cheesy potatoes in the short term.
5. Have a little bit of everything, even the cheesy potatoes. However, if you are a once-you-start-you-can't-stop personality, leave this one alone. And a "little bit" is a tablespoonful, not a plateful.
6. Deal with the food pushers in your life. They'll live if you don't have a piece of pie.
7. Have a good time without food. Hit up places where food isn't a focus, like an art exhibit, a holiday show or a tubing hill.
Remember, you are in control of your own holiday food choices. Go for quality over quantity and strive to maintain your weight through the holidays.
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