By Beth Donovan (~INDYGIRL)
We've started off a season of food galore! It's everywhere, and it is tempting, yummy, and full of memories and emotions. If you’re an emotional eater like I am, the memories (good and bad) and family gatherings will send you into a frenzy. Party tables lined with delicious and beautifully presented arrays of holiday favorites that would make Martha Stewart jealous are soon to come. Snacking on carrots and knitting to ward off binges aren't going to cut it this time of year--you need an arsenal! Here are 10 of my holiday soothers and boosters in hopes that they help you too. They have helped me to shed weight over the past four holiday seasons. I’ve now lost a total of 144 pounds.
- You need to feel good about yourself in order to treat yourself better. Wear clothes, makeup and jewelry that make you feel especially attractive right now. How about a new festive dress? New earrings? Feeling attractive makes you want to act attractive. You'll be more likely to focus on how awesome you feel about yourself rather than desiring to feel stuffed. Splurge on a manicure instead of two fast food meals this week.
- DAS: Dress the part. Act the part. Suck it up. That was my first mantra I made to get myself out of bed. Dress the part of who you want to be that day--active or dressy. Act the part--be active or more formal. Suck it up--if people or situations get to you, suck it up and let it out later during a good workout or vent with a friend.
- Be a Food Snob. Don't just eat a dessert because it's there; eat the best dessert there. In other words, if you have decided to indulge, indulge in the best you can find and limit yourself to one of the best. Stale cupcakes from a party hour ago? NO! A fresh one with absolutely perfect icing on a day you can plan it into your menu--go for it. Never treat your body like a garbage disposal for leftovers. You deserve the best.
- PLAN ahead using the food tracker. Plan for indulgences and keep that food tracker handy! It will keep you focused. If you know you are having goodies later, type them into the tracker in the morning. The rest of the day you can plan around the goodies without guilt. If you go off a little bit, odds are that it won't be nearly as bad as it would have been without the tracker. Think damage control! When you slip with that extra goody, remember one has fewer calories than two.
- At buffets or big meals, I go through the first time getting lean meat, vegetables, fruits, and grains. The second time through is for a spoonful of my favorite holiday foods. I have less room and am less hungry since I ate the good stuff first.
- Drink! Keep water, tea, or your favorite low-cal beverage handy at all times. A favorite of mine is taking a light cranberry or cherry juice and mixing it with diet 7up to taste. Favorite beverages that are low cal and fit your mood are an excellent way to stay away from treats. There are so many decadent flavors of tea now, and tea is full of antioxidants. Mocktails are cocktails without the alcohol, which can add extra calories. Experiment in your kitchen or look up some beverages on SparkRecipies.com.
- Gum helps, too. Get creative with gum and try lots of new flavors. It will help with the constant barrage of candy dishes!
- Eat before you go to a party or fancy dinner. I usually have a Healthy Choice or Lean Cuisine entrée or a protein bar before I go to a party or dinner. I arrive satisfied to a point and able to make clear decisions.
- Protein+Fiber=Full, so eat lean protein, fruits and veggies as much as possible.
- Enjoy as many active things as you can. The holidays are full of active opportunities like shopping, sledding, building snowmen, and making snow angels. If you're home with pain, put on some holiday music and do your cleaning, bed or chair workouts.
Nothing says you can’t start a new tradition that isn’t centered on food, like making ornaments instead of cookies. Create new healthy habits with your family and pass down the tradition of health and wellness.
Hope these tips help you like they have me!
Do you have any non-food holiday traditions? What are they?
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