It's really up to us whether or not we gain weight. It could be easy to blame all the work parties, family get togethers, and your co-worker who happens to have treats on her desk. But ultimately we are responsible for the hand to mouth reflex that often kicks into high gear during the holiday season.
It's easy to find endless lists of holiday eating tips that will help us minimize weight gain. However, these lists are useless if we don't change our mind-set about food over the holidays.
It's really very simple...if we think we're going to gain weight during the holidays then, guess what? WE WILL GAIN WEIGHT. If we think the holidays are time to ignore our nutrition and fitness then we will find ourselves playing catch up in the New Year trying to 'get back' to where we were before the holidays hit. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. What we think will happen is going to happen.
If we think we can exercise self control and not gorge on everything in sight and roll ourselves into bed at the end of a festive evening, that's what's going to happen.
Personally, I think it would suck to be on a holiday rollercoaster of gaining and losing every year. I don't deny myself my fave holiday treats. I just don't go overboard with it at one sitting. Believe it or not, I love holiday baking. But I limit myself. I just don't like the feeling of being over-stuffed or over-sugared.
STOP, THINK, THEN EAT!
And here are some obvious tips:
1) Don't go to a cocktail party starved. Those little hor-duerves can be packed with saturated fat and calories and they add up fast.
2) Decide how much you're going to drink and stick with it.
3) Stay away from creamy or sugary holiday cocktails.
4) If you know you might go overboard at a party or function, limit simple carbs/starches and fill up on proteins and vegetables.
5) If your family culture is all about love and celebration through food, eat slowly so you don't get pressured to eat more right away. Or just lie and say you have a stomach ache when your momma pressures you to take seconds or thirds.
6) If you think you're doing a good job eating crudite (i.e. chopped up veggies) stay away from the dip. duh...
7) If you love cheese, stay away from the really creamy super high fat cheese.
8) Do NOT stop working out if you plan to indulge a little. January is the busiest time of year for the fitness industry for this reason. Don't be a cliche.
9) Set your New Year's resolution before New Year's Eve. There is no time like the present. If you can be healthy and exercise self control during the holidays, you can do it almost anytime.
10) And for last time, don't blame parties or other people for your hand to mouth reflex.
Peace.
Jane
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