The holidays are here, which means we are enjoying the favorite seasonal dishes and desserts that we have been looking forward to all year. Feasting on delightful delicacies is a mainstay of any celebration, and it seems the bigger the celebration, the greater the feast. With Christmas and New Year's celebration, many of us end up at party after party, celebrating the holiday season and packing on the pounds. Many reports claim that the average person gains 5-10 pounds during the holiday season. It is much more difficult to lose weight than to gain, so if you put on even a pound or two on during the holidays, it is likely you will not lose it.
Making a plan now can help you enjoy the season without expanding your waistline. Follow these tips to keep yourself from becoming another holiday weight gain statistic.
- Eat Regular Meals and Snacks: Skipping meals before or after a party will not do you any favors. It slows down your metabolism, and if you arrive at a party famished, you will likely make poor choices on what and how much to eat.
- Get Out of the Kitchen: Once you have filled your plate, move to another room and engage in conversation or another activity that will take your mind off of food.
- Make Healthy Contributions to Holiday Potlucks: Take a more traditional holiday dish and modify it to reduce calories, fat, and/or sugar.
- Step Up the Exercise: The holidays are a busy time, but challenge yourself to find an extra 30 minutes in your day for physical activity.
- Focus on Quality, Not Quantity: Peruse the buffet table and choose 3-5 dishes that are the most appealing. Take smaller portions of them since they are likely rich and more calorie-laden than the foods you are used to. Enjoy your favorites and skip the rest.
- Don't Go Back for Seconds: Whether you're at a buffet table or an appetizer table, fill your plate once and do not go back.
- Get to the Back of the Buffet Line: If you wait until most others have taken their food, you will be the one still eating while others are sitting with clean plates or going back for seconds.
- Make Healthy or Non-Food Gifts: You will end up licking the bowls and tasting the finished product. If food gifts are a must, then try making something healthy like granola, whole wheat bread, home-canned fruits or vegetables, or jam.
- Plan Ahead: Bring your own healthy snacks to work so you don't find yourself diving into a plate of fudge when your afternoon hunger kicks in.
- Remember That Drinks Do Count: While these drinks add significantly to your calorie intake, they may not curb your appetite for food. If you want to enjoy a little more food, save the calories from the drinks and choose water instead.
- Celebrate Sensibly: The holidays are a time to enjoy the company of good friends, and yes, good food. So go ahead and enjoy those treats that you only get this time of year, but do it sensibly.
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