If I must start somewhere, right here and now is the best place imaginable.
― Richelle E. Goodrich
Holidays are wonderful but come January, all that excess food can leave you feeling fat, bloated, and remorseful.
We have 4 full weeks of holiday merriment left and many of you are wondering how you’re going to get through it all without gaining extra weight. Studies show that the average American gains 1-10 lbs. during the holidays.Not surprising, people who are the most active gain the least, and people who are already overweight tend to gain the most.
Now, a 1-10 lb. weight gain doesn’t seem like a lot of weight but here’s the rub: most people don’t lose this weight. It becomes part of the weight they gain over their lifetime, so over 20 holiday seasons that turns into a 20-100 lb. weight gain! Not to mention weight gained over the rest of the year.
With that sobering reality, how can you enjoy yourself and not feel deprived?
The key is to make smart choices by planning your holiday strategy in advance. As I like to say, “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” Spontaneity often leads to overeating. It’s just too easy to throw your good intentions out the window when faced with an overabundance of tempting goodies and choices.
With that in mind, here are 10 tips to make your holiday a healthy one.
1. Be selective. Accept the fact that you can’t eat every holiday goodie you encounter. Think of the special holiday goodies and dishes you can’t live without and be sure to include these in moderation this holiday.
2. Don't go to a holiday event starving. It's too easy to eat everything in sight!. Have a little snack to take the edge off, so that you can be selective about what you choose to eat there.
3. During the holiday season, make sure you eat plenty of lean protein. Eating too many carbs and refined sugars can leave you feeling tired, moody, and can even lower your immune system, making you susceptible to getting sick over the holiday season.
4. Limit your alcohol intake. Drinking too much not only adds calories but it tends to increase overeating. Lighten your intake by drinking white wine spritzers or sipping on one drink all night.
