The holidays are a time to offer thanks, to spend time with
loved ones and a time to EAT - turkey, stuffing, pumpkin
pie, etc. Unfortunately, the holidays are the time of year
when many people end up putting on the extra "holiday
pounds" which is easy to do for the season continues for
just about two months! But the holidays come once a year.
What's the point of refusing a piece of pecan pie, then
feeling miserable? As my most successful strategies are
about to reveal.....it's absolutely OK to enjoy your
favorite holiday treats and continue to make progress.
Incorporate the following 7 strategies to fight back
against the battle of the holiday bulge.
1. Make Exercise A Priority.
The first key to preventing weight gain is to increase your
activity level. Besides burning extra holiday calories,
exercise reduces stress, elevates your mood and gives you
more energy. Sure it may seem difficult to fit in a workout
when you are traveling, shopping, baking plus a ton of
other holiday-related activities.
That's why it's important to first make a commitment to
your fitness goals and incorporate short burst exercise
into your routine - all you need is 90 minutes a week!
2. Have a Plan.
If you are known for overindulging, you must have a plan in
place. Visualize what and how much you will eat before you
approach the festive meals and treats. You can also
incorporate a backup plan that requires you to be more
active for that particular day, or the following day, to
keep your metabolism humming so you burn off those extra
calories.
3. Don't Skip Meals.
On the day of the holiday feast, be sure to eat regularly
all day long. If you will be eating in the evening, start
with a supportive breakfast - particularly something with
protein and high fiber carbohydrates. Be sure to eat
something light in the afternoon like a quality high
protein snack. Protein will help you feel full longer so
you'll be less likely to binge. Once you arrive, go ahead
and indulge in some of the delightfully delicious foods.
Since you have eaten meals earlier in the day, you will
find that you aren't as tempted to go overboard and eat
everything in sight.
Whatever you do, do not starve yourself. Not only will you
slow your metabolism down to a hearty fat storing rate,
arriving ravenous will guarantee overindulgence.
4. Portion Control is Key.
Allow yourself to enjoy your favorite foods with the ones
you love, but do so in moderation. Take time to survey the
foods before you make your choices. Try a "serving-spoon"
size of the foods you really want to eat and ½ the
size of the foods you just want to try out. This way you
can enjoy trying many different foods without overeating.
Eat off a smaller plate and skip the seconds. Instead, save
room for dessert. You don't need to deprive yourself of the
foods you love, otherwise your cravings will grow and
you'll be more likely to overindulge.
5. Wear Form-Fitting Clothes.
Want to really keep yourself honest and the same size
during the holiday season? Wear your most form-fitting
clothing. Another trick is to tie a string around your
waist under your clothing to help keep you mindful of the
actions you take during the holiday feast.
6. Limit or Avoid Alcoholic Beverages.
The average alcoholic drink contains 200 calories per glass
while an 8-ounce cup of eggnog with rum contains 450
calories. Not only does alcohol pack a lot of empty
calories, but over-consumption lowers inhibitions and
self-control.....not a good combination when you're near a
buffet of festive foods! If you decide to drink alcohol,
stick to light beer or a champagne spritzer or for
non-alcoholic alternatives try club soda with lime, tomato
juice or diet soda with a lime.
7. Practice the "Cheat Technique."
If you make supportive food choices 80-90 percent of the
time, you have every right to let loose and ''cheat'' the
other 10-20 percent. This not only allows you something to
look forward to so you stay on track, you'll also enjoy the
festivities without carrying them around on your waistline
and into the New Year.
"Failing to plan is planning to fail."
You have the choice to make fitness your priority. Thinking
you'll "get around to it" or that you are "waiting for
right time" are simply excuses that take you nowhere. Make
a plan, write it down, and stick to it. If you do over-do
it, be forgiving of yourself and get back on track the
following day.
Have a Fit and Healthy Holiday Season!
----------------------------------------------------
Holly Rigsby is a nationally recognized women's fitness
coach, certified personal trainer (CPT) and the author of
the internationally popular e-book - Fit Yummy Mummy - Burn
Your Baby Fat & Get Your Body Back. Go to
http://www.fityummymummy.com to get your FREE copy of her
special report: "The Top 5 Busy Mom Metabolism Boosters."
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