For many, the week between Xmas and NYE is often the time you munch mindlessly on leftover turkey and candies with the promise that the New Year will bring a New You — sound familiar? Whether you pack on more pounds or gain control of your eating and exercise habits is entirely up to you! Even if you ate more mashed potatoes with gravy than those 5 glasses of wine will allow you to remember, you still have a whole entire week before 2010. Why not make this week great and bring in the New Year with a bang! Here are some easy tips to help get back on track:
Don’t be couch potato. Get out of the house. A sure-fire way to turn into a hippo is by staying inside the house. Simply getting up off the couch and out of the house for some fresh air will give you motivation to do more and boost your brain happy chemicals. The added benefit is when you move, you improve your digestion and your circulation. This has more benefits than you may realize like having a healthy and satisfying…. ummm, yes, bowel movement! Nothing worse than having turkey rotting in your belly for 3 days!
Move your booty. Make a point of doing something everyday this week that gets your heart rate UP. Even if you dont have an hour to spend at the gym — take 20 minutes every morning to go for a walk or climb a few sets of stairs. You will burn a few hundred calories and maybe that extra helping of pie.
Eat smaller portions. This is my secret to staying in control throughout the holidays. I try a little of everything I like, even homemade truffles that would have been a crime for me not to try! My rule of thumb is not to deny myself of anything, but have less and not go back for seconds. This is key — to avoid second helpings, because by the time you clear your plate the second time, you’re already stuffed like a turkey!
Hydrate. Drink water before a meal and after, NOT during to prevent overeating and diluting your digestive juices. Herbal teas can be substituted for water (as long as they are caffeine free). These liquids will cut your appetite and help to flush toxins from your body. My fave is peppermint tea after a meal. This usually cuts the craving for a sweet and helps the digestive process.
Don’t starve all day to save your calories for the big meal. I hear people tell me they do this all the time! Don’t make this big mistake of putting your metabolism into super slow-mode because you will end up eating twice as much later on than if you had eaten healthfully all day. Youll then be able to make better eating choices when you aren’t in starvation-mode.
Lastly, don’t deprive yourself. I have a friend who purposely goes on a diet around Christmas just so she has an excuse not to overindulge. This just seems crazy to me! The holidays are all about treating yourself, not deprivation. I say, live a little, but just don’t go overboard!
Want more tips to avoid holiday weight gain?
5 holiday eating tips: http://joyoushealth.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/5-tips-to-avoid-holiday-weight-gain/
Eat fat to lose fat: http://joyoushealth.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/its-not-fat-that-makes-you-fat/
Get your best body ever: http://joyoushealth.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/get-your-best-body-ever-7/
1 thought on “Waistline Patrol, I mean "control"! 6 tips.”
Thanks – I think your portion control tip saved me from getting bigger over the holidays!