Holiday Health: How to Skip the Weight Gain
By Virginia Laird
It can be difficult to stick to a diet plan over the holidays. It is safe to say that many holiday treats do not fit in any diet. Finding balance between enjoying the great snacks and keeping healthy can be problematic. There are a few tips suggested by fitness instructors, personal trainers, and healthcare professionals which can help keep you on track during the impending holidays. These tips include:
- Bring a healthy dish to share
- Avoid drinking your calories
- Use a small plate
- Know when to stop
Bring a Healthy Dish to Share
When you know you will be surrounded by unhealthy choices, it is a great idea to bring a healthy dish to share. No worries about offending the hostess, many people find it good manners to bring something to a holiday gathering. This will give you the option of at least one healthy choice of something you can eat without guilt.
Avoid Drinking Your Calories
Whether you realize it or not, beverages can be a huge source of calories that can easily be avoided. The smell of hot apple cider can be inviting. Maybe, for you, it is the aroma of fresh eggnog that gets your mouth watering. If you have a holiday beverage you love and cannot live without, simply plan those calories in your day as part of your consumption.
Use a Small Plate
One tip recommended by many health and wellness professionals is to use a smaller plate. This is a trick you can play on your eyes and your stomach. We are all guilty of loading our plate full of goods at every holiday gathering attended. Using a smaller plate won’t keep you from piling your plate, but it will help to control how much you have on it. Simply put: A smaller plate holds less than a larger one. You may even notice after eating everything on your small plate that you are satisfied and have no need to get seconds.
Know When to Stop
It is wise to know when to stop eating. Although the food may be sitting out for display the entire time you are in attendance, there is no need to have food in your hands throughout the party. Give yourself a limit before you get there and stick to it. Knowing when it is time to stop can help you avoid the holiday pounds that many across the country fall victim to.
It’s time to make your plan, grab your healthy dish, put on your best holiday sweater and enjoy the company and good food of your holiday gathering!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Brentwood, Tenn.