The holidays are here and it is time to celebrate with family, friends, and food! It is a time of great memories and yummy traditional holidays dishes that you eat one time of year. Unfortunately it is that time of year when people overeat and gain 10 lbs. or more. It is the same old vicious cycle that we are all too familiar with. This holiday eat smart, be active, and beat the holiday weight gain by implementing a few simple tips you can stay healthy during the holiday season.
Healthy Holiday Tips:
1. Be active. Try to make time in your day to get some exercise in. Exercise will helps with the holiday stress and prevent weight gain. With all the extra holiday food, you can’t afford not to work out.
2. Don’t skip meals. Whether it is a holiday party or event, make sure you eat beforehand. Coming to a holiday party hungry is a recipe for overeating. Before leaving for a party, eat a healthy meal, some fruit, or veggies. This will ensure that you won’t over indulge.
3. Watch portions. We all love the special holiday meals that we get to eat once a year, but with that comes extra the calories. Instead of piling on your plate and gorging, choose your favorite foods and aim to get smaller portions. That way you don’t deprive yourself and you still get to enjoy the holiday feast.
4. Eat till you are satisfied, not stuffed. Savor you favorite holiday meals and treats eating slowly and enjoying the taste in small portions. Don’t race to see if you finish your meal first and then go back for seconds. Instead sit down, eat small portions on fork, and enjoy your meal bite by bite until you are satisfied.
5. Bring your own healthy holiday dish. By bringing your own food that you prepared yourself, you know what is in it.
6. Make a healthier holiday spread. If you are hosting the holidays this year, aim to use healthier traditional recipes. There are a ton of very delicious recipes that have half the calories and your guest won’t even know.
7. Be careful with beverages. Most holiday drinks or cocktails are full of fat and calories. Know that egg nog, hot chocolate, or an alcoholic beverage can have up to 500 calories which counts for a meal. Choose what you drink wisely to avoid extra calories. Also, if you drink alcoholic beverages, it can trigger you to get hungrier. Beware!
8. Take focus off food. Try to play board games, watch holiday movies, or some fun outside holiday activates like skiing.
9. Don’t recreational eat. It’s ok to enjoy 1 or 2 small meals of your favorite holiday food. But grazing on bad holiday food for a few days here and a few days there will soon catch up to you.
10. Be realistic. Don’t think you are going to lose weight overeating bad foods and then think 1 or 2 workouts is going to take it off. Try to maintain your current weight through the holiday season.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Marzia
