Holidays

What advice do you have for navigating holidays while trying to lose weight?

I think I could write a whole novel on subject, lol, but I’ll try to keep it simple:
-Stick to your exercise routine. Even if you have to cut workouts short, something is always better than nothing.
-Don’t skip meals in anticipation of a party or celebration. You’ll be starving and eat more than you planned.
-Have a plan. Allow yourself one or two small indulgences (like the fudge you only get at Christmas for example) and limit it to that.
-Portion control. Have a small slice of pumpkin pie, not 3 normal slices.
-Keep your hands busy. Volunteer to take photos or keep some water/tea/coffee in your hand.
-Exercise before a party or event. Doing a healthy activity before will help keep your goals on your mind.
-Have a family weight loss/maintenance contest. Put some cash or other reward behind it.
Hope these help.

Pamela

www.ThrivePersonalFitness.com

its a holiday! take a break.
what’s the point of a holiday if you are going to be an exercise/nutrition nazi for all of it!

All this will mean is you will be a few pounds behind from if you stayed at home, live a little.

If your going to be at the party for about 4 hours you should make two sensible plates. One for when you first get there, and one to eat 3 hours later. Cheat a little on the second one if you find you “behaved well” since the first one.

I am thinking I can get some extra protein from the turkey and do some portion control on the rest. I have some good physical activities planned. I will be at the in laws and won’t have my normal stuff around me. No bike or gym. I will do some running and ice skating.

My gym (Big Sky, in CT) sends out ‘tips’ via email, and the most recent one was on this very issue! I thought they had some really good points. Here’s what they said:

Preventing holiday weight gain
It’s commonly thought that the typical holiday weight gain is around 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms). In reality, it’s probably less. The catch, though, is that even a small holiday weight gain is seldom lost – adding to the cumulative weight gain that happens over time. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy the upcoming season and avoid holiday weight gain:

Take it a Day at a Time. Strive to balance out your calories over the day or at least over a couple of days. If you’ll be consuming extra calories at a social event in the evening, make adjustments earlier in the day. Focus on fruits and veggies along with some lean protein and high-fiber grains to keep your appetite in check.

Spurn the Party Snacks. Don’t waste your calories mindlessly by munching salty or sugary snack foods. Save your calories for the big event – dinner and dessert.

Be Selective. Buffets don’t have to be all you can eat. Survey the offerings. What looks too good to pass up? What can you live without? Focus on what you’ll enjoy, not how much you can squeeze on your plate.

Decorate Your Plate. Fill half to three-quarters of your plate with colorful raw veggies, fruits or items that have these as their main ingredient. You know creamy sauces and cheesy toppings are going to add calories, so take smaller portions. Fill the rest of your plate with lean meat or seafood choices.

Mind Your Manners and Portions. At sit-down affairs, graciously sample all foods for your own experience and to please your host. However, you don’t have to clean your plate to demonstrate your appreciation.

Practice Discretion. Identify the added calorie culprits, such as cheese or cream sauces and fillings, and discretely move some or all to the side of your plate. You’ll still get the flavor just not all the unnecessary calories and fat.

Plan for Indulgence. If you want to indulge in a homemade holiday treat or luscious dessert, ask yourself what you’re willing to give up in exchange. Will it be something at lunch or dinner, or your afternoon snack? Or, are willing to put in the extra time at the gym?
Source: MayoClinic.com

Over the next few weeks notice what is in your hand, on your plate and what you are about to eat. Resolve to not feel tired and sluggish. Always look for opportunities to move! Keep in mind that celebrations are really about family and friends.
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Here’s a link to another set of some good tips from Real Simple magazine (my favorite!):

http://www.realsimple.com/health/nutrition-diet…

Hope that helps! I’m a huge fan of indulging once in a while, but it’s all about balance!

-Katie

Yeah, I mostly agree with BoomBoom. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with indulging on Thanksgiving and Xmas night/eve/hanukkah/whatever. If you’ve been eating at a deficit, your stomach will be shrunken enough that I doubt you can do much damage. Also, your metabolism adjusts to small fluctuations in your diet. It’s consistently overeating that can get you into trouble.

Now, if you’re going to a lot of holiday parties, then Pamela’s suggestions are good. I think portion control is key. One sugar cookie isn’t going to derail your diet, but a dozen cookies with 5 mugs of spiked eggnog might.

EDIT: Also, for parties, remember that alcohol is both calorie rich and stimulates your appetite!