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| Thursday, December 18, 2008 |
| Surviving the Holiday “Spread” |
With the Ho Ho Ho Holiday Season in full swing, everyone is busy shopping, traveling, eating and drinking! Even with the best intentions, it can be really hard to eat healthy and exercise. To avoid the typical weight gain and stress associated with this time of year, I wanted to share some tips to help you survive the “Holiday Spread”.
Be realistic - Trying to drop pounds this time of year can feel like a self-defeating goal, but trying to maintain your weight is fairly reasonable. Forget the “all or nothing” mindset. Depriving yourself of special holiday treats or feeling guilty over a poor food choice is not part of a healthy eating strategy, and certainly not part of the holiday spirit. Just remember, when you decide to indulge, do so in moderation!
Limit alcohol - The calories you drink can add up quickly and provide little, if any, nutritional value. Alcohol also tends to stimulate your appetite and inhibit your ability to make good food choices (don't pretend like you don't know what I'm talking about). Enjoy one alcoholic beverage if you must, then switch to a diet soft drink, coffee, or water with a lemon.
Plan before you eat - When you get to an event, check out all the food options and develop a plan that will allow you to sample foods without abandoning the good habits you’ve formed. Choose small portions and fill your plate with healthier choices like turkey breast (without the skin), tossed salad, steamed veggies, plain potatoes, and fresh fruit. Try to avoid fatty meats, gravy, pie, stuffing, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Hold a low-calorie drink to keep your hands occupied and away from snacking. Mingle! Avoid hanging around the food table.
Don’t arrive on an empty stomach - Although you may be tempted to skip lunch so you can splurge on dessert, don’t! Have a small handful of nuts, a piece of fruit, or ½ turkey sandwich with low-fat cheese before you arrive. An empty stomach can weaken even the strongest willpower.
Offer to bring a healthy dish - This strategy not only provides you with a healthy menu option, but your host/hostess will greatly appreciate the help (I know I always do). Better still, go home empty handed and leave the leftovers for someone else!
Exercise - It’s tempting to ditch your workouts as your days fill up with holiday shopping, preparation and parties, but now, more that ever, you need to stay active! Exercise will help you deal with the added stress and give you energy for those endless tasks you need to accomplish. If you can’t stick with your usual routine that’s ok…fit exercise in whenever you can. Go sledding, exercise at home or take a 10 minute walk.
Don’t skip meals to conserve calories - Skipping breakfast or lunch can cause you to overeat, consuming more calories than you would if you had eaten your regular meals. If you do miss a meal because of your busy schedule, be sure to have a quick and healthy snack to prevent you from getting too hungry.
Stay Hydrated - Drink lots of water throughout the day. It suppresses the appetite and is something everyone should do year round.
Enjoy the season! Concentrate on socializing and having fun. Go ice-skating, catch up with relatives and friends, play a game, or take a walk to enjoy the Christmas lights. Think about what you’re celebrating, not just the food!
Cheers!
- Lauren
We’ll be revisiting Josee’s great tips for Healthy Holiday Cooking next week so stay tuned.Labels: healthy tips, holiday ideas, Lauren
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posted by My Sensei @ Thursday, December 18, 2008   |
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