How to Maintain Weight During the Holidays
When festivity fills the air, the holiday spirit becomes contagious. Winter, as it is, brings with itself a lethargy and longing for warmth that is found in the most indulgent of foods. Bakeries start stocking up, there are pies on window sills, mugs are topped with hot cocoa. Caution goes out the window and we stop fighting against the holiday spirit and put on the notorious burden we regret as soon as the New Year dawns: holiday weight.
It does not need to be one or the other, though. You can indulge in your eggnog and candy canes and emerge in the Thanksgiving feast as much as anyone else. There are only a few technical tips and tricks that you must integrate into your lifestyle and you will never have to worry about making the holiday spirit your enemy again.
Be prepared to start out your New Year already feeling like the new self you need to be, having already taken losing weight off of your list of resolutions. Let your body and mind both get the best this holiday season.
1. Plan Your Proportions
Our elementary school food pyramid has been cutting out portions for us from the time when we were learning our ABCs. But that old food pyramid doesn't really do you any favors for health, wellness, or weight loss. Refer to Dr. Hyman's NEW Pegan food pyramid for guidance. Use this as your primary guide this holiday season and take it into consideration a little more when it comes to picking from the buffet line. Yes, you can have that mug of eggnog but do not skip out your portion of fruits and vegetables. Life is not cruel enough to forbid you the heavenly holiday foods you crave all year, it is only a balance you must create between all the foods from the table. Remember to fill at least half your plate with vegetables then take little bits of the "treats", you will feel better for it. Taking care of yourself is truly a reward in itself!
2. Have Rules
The way people let themselves go is quite literally by letting themselves “go”. Holiday weight is not unavoidable – in fact, it may result from people’s belief that there is no stopping holiday weight so they indulge with no stoppers. Have set quantities that you have allowed for certain foods, and have rewards and penalties for how well you abide by those limits. They may have laid an entire dish of creamy baked potatoes but that never means you are entitled to seconds and thirds. Remember the commitment you have made to yourself – not by complete abstinence but by only a little of a good thing. It keeps the novelty factor running and keeps your body and mind happy.
3. Move Around
Yes, there is no work, no college, no commitments. There is, however, joy in the moving around you have decided to completely give up. Remind yourself of how walks in the winter feel so refreshing or do basic morning exercises to remind yourself that while the rest of the world may be giving into the holidays, does not mean that you conform too. Find a few minutes every day to move around, take a walk, do stretches.
Volunteer to move during parties..... take out the trash, serve drinks, clear the table, do the dishes, walk the dog. Remove yourself from the table and the temptation to dive in for more.
4. Pace Yourself
Eating a lot does not make you put on weight. Accept this mantra. It is the how and what you eat that makes you gain the unwelcome weight. Space out your meals by smaller portions, you do not have to eat until the pants come unbuttoned at the dinner table, remember to listen to your body. Stop eating when you feel full. Take small bites, chew properly, and drink water before your meal.
To find out more about working with me, email me for a free strategy session or to find out more about my New Year’s reset program, helping you to accomplish your mindset and weight loss goals.