Food is everywhere during the holiday season, making it tough to stick to your healthful eating and exercise habits. However, with a little attention and intention, you can make it through the holidays without losing track of your healthy lifestyle. Rather than focus on losing weight during this time, focus instead on not gaining weight. Remember – the holiday season should be enjoyable, and fine food is one of the pleasures of the season. Instead of depriving yourself, allow yourself to splurge on those foods that make your holiday season meaningful. Enjoy your favorites in small amounts, try to cut back in other ways, and make an effort to keep your exercise schedule on track.
There are many ways to keep your calorie intake under control during the festivities. Try these tips and see which ones work for you:
- Survey the entire table before you take any food. Decide what foods are worth eating and what can be ignored, and then stick to that decision. Why waste calories on foods that don’t bring you pleasure?
- Eat a snack before you leave home. If you arrive at a party starving, you’ll be more likely to overindulge.
- Eat your calories instead of drinking them. Stick to lower calorie or calorie-free drinks (diet sodas, water, light beer, or wine spritzer) instead of punches, eggnogs, and mixed drinks that can have up to 500 calories per cup.
- Sip a large glass of water between every alcoholic drink or non-alcoholic punch. This will help keep you hydrated and you’ll drink fewer calories by the end of the night.
- When you are the host or hostess, include nutritious and lower-calorie foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean meats on the menu. When you are a guest, bring along a lower-calorie dish to share.
- Try not to hang out near the food. Find a comfortable spot across the room and focus on people instead of eating.
- Watch your portion sizes. Don’t cover your plate completely with food. In most cases, especially when it comes to holiday sweets and alcoholic beverages, less is better.
- Drop out of the “clean plate club”. Leave a few bites behind every time you eat, especially if you are eating something that doesn’t make your heart go pitter-pat.
- Enjoy your favorite holiday treats but take a small portion, eat slowly, and savor the taste and texture of the wonderful foods of the season.
Continuing regular exercise during the hectic and sometimes stressful season can help you maintain your weight and your sanity, but you may need to adjust your expectations for holiday exercising. Be flexible, and understand that you may not work out according to your normal pattern. Try to sneak in exercise whenever you can, by taking a walk after a large meal, for example. Walking, running, or stair-climbing are easy when you are traveling-you can do these activities almost anywhere. For resistance training, check your sporting goods or on-line stores for rubber resistance bands. They slip easily into a travel bag, are lightweight, and can be used to strengthen and tone almost any body part.
With these tips in mind, you’ll be well-positioned to make it through this joyous time without packing on extra pounds.
