Keeping the Weight off During the Holidays
The holidays often present an excuse to eat more and without regards to what and how often we do it. Party after party, we attend, socialize, eat and drink to our hearts’ content. We usually shrug off and say that we could always diet after the New Year.
The holiday season is a time for getting together with friends, meeting new ones and catching up with the old. It is a time when you take time to be with family and loved ones. It is a time of togetherness, and it is celebrated with food. The number one rule is to bask in these and enjoy it. The second is to remind yourself that you do not have to overeat to enjoy.
1. Be realistic.
Admit it, it is difficult to continue dieting while everyone else is binging. However, this is not to say that you should just throw all caution to the wind. Set realistic goals that will not limit what you can do during the fun and festivities of the season. For example, you might want to aim for maintaining your weight instead of losing some. This way, you will not be under tremendous pressure to cut back and put a damper on any Christmas party you go to.
What is more, it is important to keep track of these goals wherever you may go. Write it on a piece of paper, recite it to yourself every chance you get, or tie a ribbon on your little finger, anything that would help you remember your goals and keep you from eating too much food.
2. Avoid the alcohol.
Christmas parties usually start with a pre-dinner cocktail, but it is best to, just drink water while everyone else is drinking alcohol. This is because the alcohol actually makes you eat more by stimulating your appetite. What is more, by cutting back on the alcohol, you can avoid the extra calories from it.
3. Do not skip meals.
Some people think that by skipping breakfast or lunch, they would be able to make up for last night’s food binge. Wrong. By spacing meals too far apart, you would only find yourself too hungry to control yourself when dinner comes along. This makes you overeat all the more. Do not skip any meals, and you should even include some snacks like yogurt or sandwiches every four hours. If you come to a party on a full stomach, you will be tempted less to gorge on sinful cakes, and fatty foods!
4. Drink water!
Remember to hydrate yourself with water. Instead of juices, sodas or punch, drink only water. This will help cut the calories you eat during the holidays.
5. Go for smaller portions.
You love that juicy Christmas ham, that chocolate cake, that creamy salad, that chocolate mousse? There is no sense in saying no to these foods when you are in a party that would last for hours, opting instead for “safe” foods. You would find yourself going back to the table and getting these “sinful” foods, which on top of the “safe” foods you have already eaten would equal overeating! Instead of depriving yourself of your favourite foods, take a small portion of each on your plate. However, do limit yourself to one plate!
6. Eat slowly.
It is bad manners to talk while your mouth is full. However, do you know that talking in between bites actually helps you lose weight? Eating slowly can help you eat less before your brain can signal your body that it is full. The result? You eat less before you realize you are full.
7. Exercise every chance you get.
Set aside extra 30 minutes or one hour for additional exercise. If you cannot spare time to go to the gym, look for other ways to exercise. You might want to walk to the next party or run home instead of taking your car.
8. Ditch the guilt.
If you found yourself eating too much at a party, forgive yourself and move on. Get back on track tomorrow. There is no sense in feeling guilty about your bout with overeating. Feeling guilty will only make you take drastic measures like abstaining from food or even eating more.
