The holiday season is a time that fills us with warmth, gratitude – and stress. We want to buy the perfect gifts, take time away from work to spend with family, and wow relatives with showstopping feasts. It’s a lot to pack into six weeks. Luckily, keeping everyone happy doesn’t have to mean neglecting ourselves, but certainly we do need to have a game plan if we want to make it through to the new year without feeling discouraged about holiday weight gain.
What’s YOUR game plan for maintaining or even (gasp) losing weight over the holidays?
If you don’t have one, that’s okay because it’s not too late to get your thoughts together. Just make sure that your plan is not to overeat for the next two months and then starve yourself in January to drop the extra pounds because you’ll likely find that it’s not that easy.
Here are some tips to help you look good, feel great, and emerge from the holidays proud of the choices you’ve made:
- Don’t supersize. Go for small portions, or at least reasonable ones. Moderation is always the key; just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you have to go crazy and fill two plates when you normally only have one.
- Make a conscious effort to limit fatty foods, sugary foods and processed food.
- Treat yourself to a nice drink (Hello, Starbucks!), dessert, chocolate or baked treat without guilt, but limit yourself to just one until the next time.
- Drink “low-fat” eggnog. Look, there’s really no excuse – the low-fat or soy versions taste just as good with half the calories. This is a “no-brainer”.
- Don’t go to a party hungry, eat something before you go. You’re not going to miss out. Chances are they’re not going to serve food for an hour or two anyway. If you refrain from starving yourself or showing up famished, you will tend not to overeat.
- Avoid standing by holiday buffets. Hanging out near the food table is a surefire way to over-indulge.
- Drink less alcohol or abstain altogether. Folks, these are empty calories. Ladies, alcohol weight goes right to your rear end and thighs. Guys, your mid-section takes the hit on this one. We all know that spare tire is a killer to get rid of come January or February. Don’t even go there. Try small portions, light beer, and drinks that are less heavy.
- Drink a lot of water. Alcohol and coffee can dehydrate your body quickly, and in the craziness of our holiday calendars and events we can forget to drink any for hours.
Aim for seven helpings of fresh fruits and vegetables per day. There are plenty of great options usually available throughout the season, such as squashes, fresh berries, tangerines, grapes, green beans, sweet potato, asparagus, and leafy greens.- Keep a regular workout plan throughout the holidays and your time off, even if it’s simply taking walks around the neighborhood, stretching, or at-home yoga. Get those muscles working and your blood moving!
- Eat nuts as a nice protein alternative to high-fat chips, dips, and processed junk. The chip aisle at the supermarket is a rocketship to weight gain.
- Don’t spend 12 hours in front of the television just because there’s no work or scheduled activity on any given day. Get outside, take on a new project, volunteer, help a neighbor or family member. Get in the act of routinely “doing” and not simply “watching”. It burns way more calories.
- Learn to say “no thank you” politely. It’s alright to turn someone down for a sweet or fatty food. Friends and family should respect the goals you’ve set for yourself and support your boundaries. If they don’t, plaster a smile on your face, and keep on truckin’…towards your goals.
- Realize that “you” are in charge of what you want to become in terms of your own health and wellness. There are going to be times where it’s just you and the treat tray and you have to stay committed even when nobody’s watching. You can do it!
Follow these tips, and you will make it through the holidays feeling satisfied and in control…and keep an eye on your inbox for some special Cafe Physique programs that will keep you on track from now until February.
