Between Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, there are plenty of
opportunities to splurge on extras and skimp on exercise. (Not to
mention the Halloween candy that’s left to munch on!) Here are some tips
for maintenance through the holidays that should take you right into
the start of 2014
.
Naughty or nice? Learn to differentiate between naughty and nice
holiday fares. Go for that second helping of turkey, but skip the gravy
and extra helping of carb-stuffed dressing.
Eat slower. Eating slower allows time for your
stomach to tell your brain when you’re actually full. People eat much
less when they chew longer, set their fork down between bites and wait
several seconds before the next fork full. Try it the next time you
dine; you’ll be surprised how much less you’ll eat and still be fully
satisfied.
Go lightly. Prepare salads with less dressing, and
reduce the gravy on savories. Small sacrifices here can amount to less
time in the gym later.
Eat first. Enjoy a protein-packed snack such as nuts or reduced-fat cheese to curb your hunger before gathering for a family feast.
Splurge wisely. Depriving oneself of holiday goodies
can backfire, making one crave the food even more, often leading to
overeating. Pick what to splurge on rather than mindlessly grazing on
everything. And resist going back for that second or third treat. Those
calories go on a lot easier than they come off.
Think before you drink. The buffet table is not the
only culprit that can pack on the pounds. Drink water at parties or
family gatherings. You’ll feel better and take in far fewer calories.
Don’t skip meals. Many people fast all day to “save
up” calories for the big dinner. But this method is actually
counter-productive. As we do this, our bodies slip into starvation mode.
When we do finally splurge, our bodies hold onto the fat longer—as a
precaution—pending another fasting episode. Instead, eat fibrous
veggies, reduced-fat cheese and nuts with plenty of water throughout the
day.
Keep goodies away from the house. While you cannot
control what is brought into the office or what is available at parties,
you can limit the number of sweets and snacks that are at your house.
Provide better choices at home such as whole grain crackers, fruits,
veggies and low-fat dips.
Stay active. Between colder weather and earlier
evenings, many skip the exercise routine, promising to pick it back up
January 1. Make time to stay active throughout the season so there’s
less weight to combat in the New Year. Simple strategies like parking
farther away from the department store door, wearing a pedometer while
shopping or walking with a faster pace through the mall will also burn
some of those extra holiday calories.
Take care. Make time to take care of
yourself—physically, mentally and spiritually. Go for a walk, spend time
in prayer and in God’s Word, sleep in when you can, read inspiring
literature and sing along to your favorite Christmas songs. The holidays
are often stressful for many people, but this year, choose to
experience the joy, excitement and wonder of it all by remembering what
it was like when you were a kid. And if you have kids, join them by
seeing these special days through their eyes.