It’s the holiday season! Thanksgiving is only two days away. And Christmas, my favorite time of the year, is only 23 days away. Its a festive time of year. Shopping centers, malls and stores have holiday decorations in place. Children have a Christmas wish list ready for Santa. Of course one of the ways we celebrate the holiday season is with food. It’s Seanon’s Eatings. It’s a generous time of year. Friends, family and coworkers express their generosity by sharing various foods and sweets. Mostly sweets in the form of cakes, pies, cookies and chocolate will be the order. If you are trying to lose weight or wanting to maintain your weight these treats will potentially derail your efforts. And for those not watching their waistline, your waistline potentially will expand during this holiday season. Before you know it, you could gain 5 or more pounds. So how do you avoid gaining weight during the holiday season? Here are some simple tips to follow that can help you avoid unwanted weight gain during the holidays:
- Mindful Eating. Be mindful of what you are eating and why. Are you eating because you are hungry, stressed or feeling emotional?
- Prep your meals and snacks ahead of time. This is especially important in the work place where you will undoubtably be surrounded by delectable treats.
- Honesty. Let your friends, family and coworkers know that you are on a path of healthy eating. Also, invite them to join you in your quest and make it a team effort.
- Keep your workout routine the same. And when you do indulge, plan to burn off the excess calories by adding an extra 30 minutes to your aerobic routine.
- Thanksgiving and Christmas are two days of the year. Try not to overeat the days leading up to and after those two days.
- Stay hydrated. Drinking water will keep you feeling full. When you feel hungry, opt for a glass of water. What you interpret as hunger may actually be thirst.
- Experiment in the kitchen. Opt for healthier versions of your favorite foods and desserts.
- Eat before the big meal. Many folks will skip breakfast and lunch before Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner. When you do this, you will be famished and you will likely overeat at dinner.
Happy Season’s Eatings!
