Grandma’s apple pie with an aroma you can’t resist. Mounds of mashed potatoes calling your name. Pork & Beans with the prized fat swimming in the middle. Mom's potato salad slathered in mayonnaise. Pudding with the fixings and delicious. Candy galore. How do you survive the calorie-latent holidays without gaining 10 or 20 pounds? This is a question we have all asked for decades and seem to interestingly forget we even thought about it when the Holidays finally arrive. Here are some concrete tips to stay in control of your eating and not have to worry so much if your pants are still going to button a week from now.
* Start the day off right with a hearty breakfast - Eat a big breakfast full of nutritious food the day of the special family gathering (which I might add you should be doing every day anyways!). Oatmeal with some fruit and a veggie omelet cooked in olive oil will start your day off just right!
* Have a mid-morning snack - Find the veggie tray that your health-nut cousin Mark brought. Instead of drowning it in ranch dressing, dip your veggies in some hummus. You could also make the wise choice of hijacking some wheat crackers with some turkey and cheese (did you happen to bring it in case there is none?).
* Help set the table - If your grandma needs someone to volunteer to do the dishes, go for it! The more active and social you are, the happier you are and there will be less of a chance that you will overeat.
* Portion control is key during the BIG meal - When it is time to eat the "big meal," serve yourself a little of everything so that you don't feel like you have been deprived of your Holiday food. It really isn't so much what you eat, but how much you stuff yourself. You will find out, a little of everything makes you feel more satisfied than a lot of one thing and studies show doing this, you eat less calories.
* Second chance at healthy eating - If you go back for seconds, pick healthier foods this time (if you can find any). Make sure though, you really want it. (Did you have some water with that feast?)
* Bring your own healthy dish - If you have to bring a dish, bring one of your favorite healthy recipes so that when you go back for seconds, you know you will find something just for you. More than likely, you won't need seconds if you have had enough to drink and you ate your food slowly.
* Take a little after dinner walk - After your Holiday meal, find a place to take a walk to get your digestion in full gear! (Of course after you have helped clean up!) This will help you feel lighter and more energized and this also counteracts the sugar fall you will have from eating the Holiday goodies.
Even though you are used to doing it and everything looks so appetizing (I think this is caused from the lingering Holiday Spirit), DON'T take leftovers home. If you are having the get-together at your house, pawn the leftovers onto everyone else. You don't want unhealthy food tempting you in the middle of the night. (We all know that happens.)
If you do happen to be unable to resist the temptation to over eat just head on over to the You Can NOW! Coaching site; I'll be happy to help you get back on track!
Yours in Health,
Flossie Alexander
Life/Weight Loss Coach
About Flossie: Flossie is currently a member of the National Association of Professional Women and Toastmaster’s International. She is a Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Coach and a Certified Wellness Coach with a successful track record in leading organizations and individuals into achieving healthy lifestyle goals. After overcoming obesity, losing 165 pounds in 18 months, she has developed a passion to help others through public speaking and one-on-one weight loss coaching. Visit Flossie at http://www.youcannowcoaching.com to start creating your new healthy lifestyle and lose unhealthy weight permanently.
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