Woohoo, the holidays are almost here! Can’t you just feel the excitement?
Anyone…Hello?
Ok, I get it. While the holidays can be full of revelry, there can also be a lot of stress and a lot of overeating. And I know that the gift you’re looking for this year is not 10 extra pound. Blech!
So how do you find balance? How do you get over Grandma Ethel’s drunken jokes, tray after tray of hors d’oeuvres, meltdowns from your 3-year old, the blowout between your mom and your sister and an endless line of “oh my gosh” desserts while keeping your pant’s button from popping off? Hint: buying pants with an elastic band is not the answer.
The answer is my 7 easy holiday tips to enjoy the food, keep your sanity and avoid holiday weight gain.
No Holiday Weight Gain Tip 1:
Eat a good breakfast
Wait, why am I talking about breakfast? The event doesn’t even start until 7 pm? Because what you eat within the first hour of waking can save you from a binge at midnight. Trust me. If you eat a good breakfast, you’ll feel more in control with your eating come night time. Skipping or delaying breakfast increases the reward value in food throughout the day. Because it’s fine to have that bite of cake. But when your family finds you face down in a pound of fudge, you have some explaining to do.
No Holiday Weight Gain Tip 2:
Have a healthy smoothie about an hour before the party begins
I know, you don’t want to ruin your appetite, nor do you want to pack on extra calories before an evening of indulging. But trust me on this one. When you go to a big event with the stable blood sugar a smoothie helps provide, you’ll enjoy your food more. You’ll eat slower, taste more of the flavors in your food and will be more likely to make sensible choices. And it isn’t like a smoothie is horribly filling. Just remember to stay away from smoothies made with frozen yogurt or other sugary options.
No Holiday Weight Gain Tip 3:
Supplement with stress relieving herbs
Already fretting over the family drama? Bent out of shape in having to be 10 different places at the same time? Stop and take a deep breath. Supplementing with herbs may be the answer for taking the edge off your stress. Considering herbs like ashwagandha, hops, passionflower, kava kava, lavender or St. John’s Wort. Something as simple as 250mg of 500mg of magnesium may be helpful as well. (But watch out for diarrhea if you take too much) If you’re on any medication or have a pre-existing condition, check with your doctor first. Because certain stresses may be inevitable. But how you decide to deal with them is up to you.
No Holiday Weight Gain Tip 4:
Make sure to get to the gym at least once a week
Ok, I get it. You’re WAY too busy right now for your normal exercise regimen. Who can blame you for slacking with all the holiday demands? And you need to let yourself off the hook about things not being perfect. However, you should still make sure to get at least one good workout in a week. The body can go a few weeks on just one workout without losing major muscle tone. And if you keep a piece of your workout routine, it won’t be a big deal when it is time to go full throttle again in January, Please note, you can’t use me as an excuse to slack off between now and December 31st. But if you simply can’t get to the gym as often, make sure to focus on getting there at all.
No Holiday Weight Gain Tip 5:
Develop a game plan
Ok, huddle! Here’s the deal. Unless you have a game plan going into the party, you’re probably likely to become undone by the bevy of options. Don’t let this happen! Come game day, tell yourself that you’re going to skip the fattening appetizers, but you’ll save a special section on your dinner plate for Uncle Edward’s mac and cheese. You’ll put lots of vegetables on the plate and have your turkey with just a small spoonful of gravy. Now you want to try every dessert, so you’ll put one spoonful of each onto your plate and really savor each one. Get how this works? You pick the indulgences that are important to you, leave out the ones that are just mindless eating and still manage to get some nutrients and fun into the mix! Oh, and tell a trusted love one your game plan so you stay accountable.
No Holiday Weight Gain Tip 6:
Add a nutritious dish to the mix
When you eat at an event or at someone’s house, you’re at the mercy of what they have available. But at most events, it is expected for the guests to contribute. And what better way to contribute than with what might be the only healthy dish available. Don’t give in to being a victim of your surroundings. Actually contribute to making things better. This might mean bringing a salad, a vegetable plate, or fruit cups for dessert. Because even people who are over-indulging enjoy a nibble of broccoli here and there. The other guests and the host won’t label you a healthy downer. I promise
No Holiday Weight Gain Tip 7:
You don’t have to eat everything on your plate
Worried that your family will take it as a great insult when you don’t try everything available on the table. It’s super frustrating when your family isn’t on the same page with your health goals. And nothing is worse than bringing Aunt Gladys to tears because you won’t try her snickers and oreo pie in a peanut butter cup crust. So put the food on your plate, move the food around as you eat so you don’t look like you are ignoring one section of your plate and focus on the healthier options (with a few bites of the treats that really speak to you.) Seriously, I once pretended to eat half of a too undercooked steak by shoving bits from my fork under the remaining steak and got away with it. When you don’t eat every bite off your plate, just say that your eyes were bigger than your stomach and that you’re stuffed. Aunt Gladys won’t ever know what really happened.
Final Point
You can get through the holidays season without needing a whole new wardrobe or a year of trauma therapy. And the great thing is you can choose moderation while still fully partaking in the festivities. Do you have a favorite tip that gets you and your waistline through the holiday season? Let me know in the comments below!
Want even more tips for staying in control of your weight? Get my free weight loss tips e-booklet which you can download by clicking here! In this booklet, I separate weight loss truths from fiction. Plus you’ll also get a sugar cheat sheet to help you get rid of the fat building hidden sugar that is found in many healthy sounding foods.
You’re like my conscience Erica. So Thanksgiving comes in a week or two and a some point I’m likely to spear something with me fork, bring it halfway to my mouth, and than stop as the memory of something I read in your blog freezes me in ambiguity.
Aha! My plan is working perfectly….
Great GREAT ideas Erica. This year I took a 21 days before Thanksgiving walking challenge. It seems to fit between your tip 4 and tip 5. I dread holiday weight gain! So now with just 11 days to go, I’ve walked off about 3 pounds.And no, I don’t want to be able to eat more than I lose! That means your tip 7 for me. I just want to eat like I did last year to lose 17 pounds in 3 months and part of that, included more exercise and water.
I’m so impressed, Patricia. Good for you in making healthy changes now. You are one of the very few not waiting for the first of the year.
I’ve never had to worry about gaining weight, as a matter of fact sometimes it would be a blessing to gain some. Having said that, these are great tips even for me. Besides the weight gain which is a problem for many, eating moderately just keeps you feeling better all through the day.
I really like the smoothie tip – having one before the meal. Makes so much sense. Thanks
You are right, Lenie. The solution for underweight people, in my opinion, isn’t excess amounts of bad for you foods. That is just as unhealthy for skinny people as heavier people.
Good tips. I find eating breakfast so important to controlling hunger and cravings throughout the day, especially when I have oatmeal. The smoothie an hour before the party sounds like an idea I may have to try.
Yes, people often don’t realize that about breakfast. They think they are being smart by saving their calories for later.
Great tips! I like starting my new exercise routine in November. Not sure why, but it seems to be a good month for me. I am all about flavor and apprearance in my food. So, it doesn’t have to be a lot. It just needs to be visual appealing and delicious.
When people really take in the flavors of what they eat, a few bites of something decadent can be all they need. But because we so often mindlessly, we often need a lot more to feel satisfied.
These are all great tips Erica, but I think my favorite is to simply have a game plan. It’s easy to go into the holidays feeling in control, but once the pace picks up and the merriment begins it’s even easier to toss it out in favor of treating yourself now with the intention of regrouping after the first of the year … ah, famous last words!
Yes, I think that is often what happens as well Marquita.It is so easy to lose yourself in the festivities. And while people are often having fun, they start feeling bad about themselves and/or uncomfortable which is not fun.
I like your sense of humour!
I started my healthy eating regime in the summer. I have ruled out white carbs and have been thinking about my eating over Christmas. I want to be able to indulge but not go overboard.
I can picture my Christmas dinner now!
Great idea of having one spoon of each dessert.
I think you have the right idea, Phoenicia. It is fine to indulge on a special occasion. It is just a question of moderation.
For number seven, I would add that it’s okay just to put less on one’s holiday plate. Everything will still taste great even if we take less of it. I remember how I used to hoard mashed potatoes and gravy like it was the only time of the year I would ever eat them, but really, a few spoonfuls is just as satisfying as a mountain of spuds 😉 Plus, there’s less of that awful full heaviness afterward.
Jeri, I definitely agree with you about #7. That is a good one.
#5 and #6 definitely helped us last year. We made this mushroom stuffing and it was delish! We usually have to make a game plan too, because to be honest you usually know what will be there each year! I will have to try making the smoothie- that would help not be so hungry by the time the food comes out! Thanks!
Is mushroom stuffing made completely of mushrooms? That really has my curiosity. And definitely try the smoothie. That can be a game changer.
Great tips Erica, Tip number 7 is my favourite.
For me before I eat, I drink a glass of water which helps me not to eat alot.
And also I dont joke with my breakfast, I dont skip breakfast.
Drinking water is really good. I didn’t put that ob ny list, but it is important to remain hydrated for a variety of reasons.
These are great tips Erica! I like the one about having a healthy smoothie before the party. I think it also helps to stay well hydrated which keeps me from thinking in hungry when really I’m just thirsty. I agree with Ken’s comment too!
Yes, water or a smoothie are both good. Whatever works for you!
Thank you for this post. I eat like crazy around the holiday. My family all bring a plate to the table and expect for everyone to taste each plate.