Holiday Season Making You Fat?
It’s that time of year again; holiday parties and family gatherings fill up the calendar between November and January. The average American gains between 7-12 pounds during the holiday season and this can be the year you change that! Instead of accepting the weight gain as inevitable, there are 10 simple steps you can take to ensure you’re still looking HOT in that little black dress on New Year’s Eve!
Be prepared – Always have a plan! You know when the holiday party is so prepare by eating better for the week leading up to the big night. Before leaving the house, have a healthy snack of protein or fresh veggies that will help keep you feeling fuller longer.
Schedule your workouts – make them a priority meeting. Party at night? Get that workout in early!
Beat stress – The holidays can be a very stressful time, be sure take some quiet time to yourself. Keep things simple – buy pre-chopped veggies whenever possible, take advantage of free gift wrapping anything to save time and aggravation.
Restrict cocktails – as tempting as they may be, alcohol is loaded with empty calories, which are mostly sugar. Additionally, alcohol lowers inhibitions and may cause you to eat even more.
Don’t stand around the table – step away from the food! Focus on socializing away from all the temptation.
Eat good to bad – assess your plate before eating and rank the items from healthiest to least healthy. Always start with the best choices first so you fill up on the good stuff!
Mindful eating – pay attention to what you’re eating, chew slowly, savor the taste. Enjoy holiday treats but be mindful of portion size.
Hold the sauce- You can cut a lot of calories by taking it easy on the toppings. Adding nuts, cheese, cream sauces, gravy, butter and whipped cream doesn’t add much to the meal, but can add plenty to your waistline.
Get rid of leftovers- Send guests home with to-go bags or take leftovers to the office the next day. Out of sight out of mind!
Go easy on yourself- So you messed up and had way too much of Aunt Carol’s famous pumpkin cheesecake? That’s not an excuse to fall off the wagon completely and dive head first into the egg nog. Go easy on yourself and get back on track! Have realistic expectations and don’t beat yourself up over missteps. This is a very busy time of year for us all. It's sometimes hard to keep your eye on the prize and keep the inches off the hips. With the help of a few small adjustments you can avoid holiday weight gain and still enjoy the holiday season! Just remember that today's efforts produce tomorrow's results!
Happy Thanksgiving!
