Healthy Choices for The Holiday Season

One gift that we almost all get every holiday season is a 10-15 pound weight gain. There are two main factors that contribute to this horrible holiday result: 1. A decrease in Physical Activity and 2: An increase in caloric Consumption.

The Weather Outside is Frightful…

In almost every country around the world, our level of physical activity drops significantly during the winter months. We spend a lot more time indoors and thus sit a lot more. This isn’t just for people who run or bike outside, but for just about everyone. You really do get an aerobic benefit from chasing your little one around the yard or park. We are also more apt to walk to the corner store in warm weather. Just these few months of inactivity can result in a set back on your weight loss goals. The best way to avoid this is to stay vigilant. If the roads are safe enough to go out, then keep going to the gym. If you have to stay home, use workout videos and a small weight set to keep active.

All the Parties

A major part of the holiday season is the countless parties you and your family are invited to. There are classroom parties, work parties, family get-togethers, cookie exchanges, and parties with friends, not to mention the actual days of the holidays you celebrate. And what’s a party with out a ton of FOOD?? It can be so difficult to overcome the temptation of Great Aunt Edna’s Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pound Cake. You also are not always in control of the menu when you are not the host. So here are some tips to help you get through all the parties without having to unbutton that top button:

• Portion Control – if you can’t skip an item, have just a taste.  You can have a small amount of each thing or one big piece of one thing. Here is a hint – if you can’t see some part of your plate under you food, you probably have too much.
• If eating at a restaurant – split an entree with someone and order a dinner salad to fill you up.
• Monitor your alcohol consumption – this is important for a number of reasons – alcoholic beverages are empty calories that add up fast, you tend to eat more as you become inebriated, you don’t want to be the talk around the water cooler the next day because you embarrassed yourself at your hubby’s office party, and you want to get home safe every night.
• Bring the healthy item to the potluck – always try to bring the veggie plate, salad, or other healthy item when invited to a potluck. That way you can be sure to have something good for you. If you have to bring a dessert – pick a lighter recipe – Angel Food Cake instead of Pecan Pie.
• Eat before you go – If possible have a sensible dinner before going to a party (obviously only if the party isn’t billed as a “dinner” party). But be careful, you don’t want to end up eating twice. Just nibble and taste test.
• Be wary of the danger zones – veggies are great but veggies drenched in ranch dressing are not so great, baked tortilla chips are great but baked tortilla chips covered in a seven layer dip are not so great. Be conscious of what you are putting in your belly, and keep a running total of how much you have already had.
• Boredom snacking – if you notice that you are still nibbling away but you are already totally full, you may be bored. You have two options here: 1. Call it a night, if it’s not too early or 2. Find someone you don’t know and introduce yourself. The distraction of meeting someone new will keep your mind off the buffet table.

The bottom-line is to have fun with your friends and family without increasing your own “bottom”-line! So eat smart, stay active and have a good time. And if you just have to have a whole slice of that pound cake, make up for it the next day by doing an extra 50 crunches and an extra mile on the treadmill.