 Have holiday fun, cut calories
Well here we are right in the middle of the season of tasty temptations. Once upon a time, the mid-winter feast was meant to fatten us up before the deep winter months of famine.
These days, we still observe the feast without the famine to follow, which can be hard on our waistlines. And it's not just one feast; we've been celebrating for weeks now. It's no wonder that some folks are feeling rather overindulged at the moment.
And yet we still have quite a bit of celebration time left to navigate through, don't we? Many folks will complain that since they've already blown their food plan for the month, why bother trying to get back on track?
If you've been in full celebration mode, I agree that this is not the best time to go back to a weight-loss plan. However, there is still some time left to limit the damage. Don't forget the math: 3500 extra calories equals one pound. So, if you continue to eat lots of extra calories, you will continue to gain a lot of weight. If you'd like to limit further damage between now and January, keep the following in mind:
• Alcohol is a triple threat. It contains empty calories, it creates inhibition that encourages an attitude of indulgence and it causes a chemical reaction in your body that makes you feel hungrier.
• Food rarely tastes as good after the first few bites. I would never suggest that someone avoid a special food that they only get to have this time of year. But I would suggest that they savor the taste and enjoy it, don't just inhale it out of habit. Get the maximum satisfaction out of the calories.
• Pick wisely. Don't waste your calories on food that you won't really enjoy. For example, if you are not a stuffing fan, skip it.
• Eat before get-togethers. Don't arrive at a party hungry. Have a bowl of soup or a healthy sandwich before you leave the house.
• Don't waste calories on beverages. Sparkling juices are very popular this time of year. Fruit juice, however, is full of calories that don't have a lot of benefit. Stick with water. It will help you to keep your appetite down. If you want to be a bit festive, add a little juice to flavor the water, about 1 part juice to 3 parts water.
• Focus on the people, not the food. Remember that the point of celebration is spending time with friends and family. You might even want to grab one or two folks and take a nice walk around the block. It will give you a quiet time to catch up and a little extra energy.
Above all, please enjoy your holiday, and I'll see you next year!
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