For the human body the holiday season is even scarier than Halloween. The body wants to run away from the fat, but the human wants to eat that fat because it is just plain tasty. The holiday tradition has always included tables filled with pies, eggnog and candy. People spend hours over the stove making holiday concoctions to fill the tummies of their loved ones. It’s just tradition. The problem is that between Thanksgiving and New Years people consume on average an extra 600 calories per day. Not so good for that diet. Then that same person that consumed an enormous amount of calories will promise to lose it all after Christmas. It might come as a surprise, but no one has to gorge during the holiday season. Food is usually around all year. It might not be peppermint bark time, but surely when someone craves a usual holiday treat they could make it even if it was summertime. There are ways not to fall off the wagon this season.
Why wait until January to begin an exercise routine? Exercise not only will keep off those extra calories, but it will put you in a holly jolly mood. If a routine is started then it will be easier to keep the routine up after the season is over. Face it, everyone is going to indulge in a bit of holiday goodness, but exercising will definitely help combat the urge and the splurge.
Beware of the liquid form of excessive calories. Most people don’t think of liquid as being fattening unless they are slurping down a milkshake. Those fruity swirls of goodness at parties can add up quickly. The sugar in most alcoholic beverages is astounding. The famous holiday drink of eggnog is almost like drinking a cake made of milk, eggs and sugar. With this said going to a party doesn’t mean being forced to drink water. There are low calorie options of most alcoholic beverages as well as hot cocoa made with healthy ingredients.
Almost everyone will give in and have a few treats no matter how healthy they are trying to be. It’s best to decide before attending the event which foods you just cannot live without and which foods you can leave on the table. If you’ve been craving Aunt Ruth’s chocolate pie all year then have a piece of pie. If you spot a new dessert that looks interesting maybe decide to leave it on the table and just eat that piece of pie. Also keep an eye on the serving size. Allowing yourself some extra calories does not mean it’s time to consume half of the candy on the plate. One thing that just might help you is to visualize the ingredients that went into that dessert before it was made. Visualize eating that piece of butter and that handful of sugar. It might not seem so appetizing this way.
At the heart of it the holidays are not about food. Loved ones are the reason for the season so remember this when food seems to make your thoughts a bit hazy. Hang out with those loved ones and enjoy company instead of eating away in a corner. Lingering near the table of goodies certainly won’t do any good. At company parties get to the dance floor and enjoy chit chatting with co-workers.
Just because society says the average American gains between seven and 10 pounds during the holidays does not mean we have to jump on the bandwagon. Now that type of wagon is one that is just fine to fall from during this holiday season!
Davisson Clinic
Diet by Design Weight Loss Center
Dr. Harvey G. Davisson
Dallas, TX
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