The holidays are officially here, and with that comes lots and LOTS of parties, work carry-ins, church programs and many other opportunities to EAT, EAT, EAT! This time of year can prove to be the pitfall of many faithful "dieters" or healthy eaters who have done well with their diet and exercise habits the previous 10 months of the year. A few years ago, I would have definitely been one of those people who gained back what I had lost and then some during the holiday season. I would then make the same New Year's resolution to lose that extra weight...and the cycle continued...
So I am following most, if not ALL of these tips to prevent the scale and my skirt size from going up:
1. Have a Plan
I already know that I am going to eat all of the Thanksgiving fixings that I have waited all year to have, but I have set guidelines for myself to follow. For instance, I will have one serving of everything that I like, but I will only have seconds of ONE item. I will have my dessert (and enjoy it too :) lol) but since I like pumpkin AND pecan pie, I will split one piece of each to make one regular slice. (and not feel too bad about my indulgence)
With carry-ins and school/office parties, pack your own lunch and just get a small plate of "samplings" and that's it.
2. Don't Forget to Exercise
Life is so busy, and the busyness increases during the holiday season. Make time for a walk with your spouse or jump on the treadmill before dinner to get that second wind for all that you have left to do in the evening. Physical activity helps to clear the mental fog and I get some of my best thinking done while I'm running.
When I took up a new exercise it helped me drop the weight SO much quicker than when I had just eaten right. I highly recommend (with Doc's approval of course) starting an exercise regime that you have never tried before. It will (most likely) jump start your weight loss.
*A great app to use for tracking walking/running miles is Nikeplus.
3. Remind yourself of how far you've come
I love food and love to eat. BUT I hated the feeling of being overweight and all the effects that went with it. When I get tempted to overeat or indulge too much, I remind myself of the progress I have made over the past year and a half and instantly my thinking changes. I may take just a bite or two of the chocolate rather than eating the whole thing. My motto is "BALANCED LIVING". I strive to balance all areas of my life, and health/fitness is one of them. But honestly, every day I must re-adjust and compensate for when I make a mistake.
So be encouraged that none of us have got it all figured out, but be challenged to not be one of the many who gain that dreaded 5-10 pounds of holiday weight! :)
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So I am following most, if not ALL of these tips to prevent the scale and my skirt size from going up:
1. Have a Plan
I already know that I am going to eat all of the Thanksgiving fixings that I have waited all year to have, but I have set guidelines for myself to follow. For instance, I will have one serving of everything that I like, but I will only have seconds of ONE item. I will have my dessert (and enjoy it too :) lol) but since I like pumpkin AND pecan pie, I will split one piece of each to make one regular slice. (and not feel too bad about my indulgence)
With carry-ins and school/office parties, pack your own lunch and just get a small plate of "samplings" and that's it.
2. Don't Forget to Exercise
Life is so busy, and the busyness increases during the holiday season. Make time for a walk with your spouse or jump on the treadmill before dinner to get that second wind for all that you have left to do in the evening. Physical activity helps to clear the mental fog and I get some of my best thinking done while I'm running.
When I took up a new exercise it helped me drop the weight SO much quicker than when I had just eaten right. I highly recommend (with Doc's approval of course) starting an exercise regime that you have never tried before. It will (most likely) jump start your weight loss.
*A great app to use for tracking walking/running miles is Nikeplus.
3. Remind yourself of how far you've come
I love food and love to eat. BUT I hated the feeling of being overweight and all the effects that went with it. When I get tempted to overeat or indulge too much, I remind myself of the progress I have made over the past year and a half and instantly my thinking changes. I may take just a bite or two of the chocolate rather than eating the whole thing. My motto is "BALANCED LIVING". I strive to balance all areas of my life, and health/fitness is one of them. But honestly, every day I must re-adjust and compensate for when I make a mistake.
So be encouraged that none of us have got it all figured out, but be challenged to not be one of the many who gain that dreaded 5-10 pounds of holiday weight! :)
~Stephanie
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