Written by: Jodi McCarty, Lite For Life of Boca Raton
As the holidays approach, many of us are dreading the inevitable weight gain in December, and the annual New Year’s Resolution to lose weight in January. End the cycle this year by following these tips to keep ‘lite’ during the holiday season!
1. Make a commitment to yourself and your goals.
Put your goal to maintain your current weight through the holidays in writing. Read your goal daily and don’t let anyone or anything derail you.
2. Plan ahead, in detail, for social events.
Make a firm plan of action such as sticking to the vegetable tray. “I’ll just watch what I eat” won’t work. You’ll watch yourself eat everything in sight.
3. Eat normally and have a healthy snack just before leaving the house.
If you starve yourself during the day, you will overindulge later. Eating most of your calories in one big meal is the worst way to eat and to watch your weight.
4. Slow down and savor your food.
Put your fork/utensil down after every bite. Chew thoroughly and enjoy the taste of your food. Eating in and of itself should be an enjoyable experience!
5. Take a 20 minute break before having more food.
It takes 20 minutes for your brain to register that you are full. Take a break and let your body communicate internally before you head back to the buffet line.
6. Drink plenty of water throughout the event.
Adequate hydration is imperative for your body to function efficiently and effectively. Plus, if you are full from your water intake you will eat less food.
7. Use alcohol in moderation or not at all.
Alcohol is full of empty calories and a high amount of sugar. The body has no way to store alcohol so it metabolizes quickly for immediate energy, pushing food into the fat storage queue.
8. Stick with coffee or tea if rich desserts are offered.
If you feel self conscious, accept a small portion and leave it on the plate.
9. Schedule in exercise.
Regular exercise goes a long way toward controlling holiday stress and helps promote better sleep. Both are keys to keeping your weight steady through the holidays.
10. Don’t use exercise as an excuse to overeat.
Most people overestimate the number of calories they can burn during a workout.
11. Don’t call attention to the fact that you are watching your weight.
If it’s not brought up, people won’t notice!
12. Offer to bring a favorite dish to a friend’s event.
Your host/hostess will appreciate the gesture and you will be sure to have a healthy dish to enjoy.
13. When hosting, get rid of the leftovers.
Remove the temptation from your kitchen; send leftovers home with your guests.
14. If you overindulge at event, get right back on track.
Don’t let one or two setbacks undo your plan for the season. Learn from the mistakes and take action steps to better handle similar situations in the future.
15. Set up a reward system for yourself.
Sticking to your plan and meeting your goals is cause for celebration. Treat yourself to a massage, a spa day, or a new outfit. You and your health are worth it!
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