TO weight lose:HOLIDAY EATING & DRINKING
Dos and Don'ts
Do...
Keep healthful meals within reach. Keep low-fat frozen dinners, packaged salads, sandwich makings and reheatable pre-prepared meals on hand for hectic, harried days that could leave you reaching for the phone for pizza or stopping for takeout.
Make a point to down at least one glass of water before each glass of an alcoholic beverage. Doing so may help lessen the effects of dehydration and help you eat and drink less in the long run.
Enjoy traditional holiday baking by making simple healthy recipe substitutions that lower the fat and calories in your favorite treats. By including modified treats in your celebration rather than going cold turkey on all your old favorites, you will feel less deprived.
Try to center family entertainment around non-eating activities such as playing a game of football, viewing old family films, watching a holiday movie, or singing carols together.
Offer to bring your favorite reduced-fat or low-carb dish to holiday parties or meals. That way you will be guaranteed that there will be at least one diet-friendly item for you.
Keep walking
All that shopping is a great way to get some walking in, but don't use that as an excuse not to do your regular walk as well. If the weather is inclement, check out walking exercise videos at the library or rent them and return to your outdoor walking schedule as soon as the temperature is friendly again.
Have a small, healthful snack before leaving for a party or get-together to prevent over-indulging on the typically high-fat fare on offer at holidays events.
Don't...
Try to diet during the holiday season. It's hard to stick to a new diet this time of year. Instead, focus on maintaining rather than losing weight.
Drink on an empty stomach. Not only will the beverage have a greater effect on you, it can lead to overeating and overdrinking. Drinks are high in calories and an easy way to pack on extra weight. According to colorie count plus, for example, just one little serving (one and a half ounces) of gin has nearly 100 calories!
Save your calories for a party or holiday meal. By skipping meals the day of or even the day before, you will only set yourself up for becoming overly-hungry which inevitably leads to overeating and paying little attention to portion portion control.
Stand next to the buffet at a holiday party. Serve yourself some small portions of the healthiest foods available and then make your way to the other side of the room. After all, parties are for mingling. If you get caught up in a good conversation, you may never return. But, if you're standing next to the buffet while you're talking, you're sure to reach for more and not even realize how much you're eating.
Eat quickly because you're in a rush. When you eat too quickly, you're likely to eat too much because you don't give your body time to register that you're no longer hungry. Remember, it takes about 20 minutes from the time you eat until your body "knows" it is full. Slow down and take a breather when it's time for a snack or meal.
Dos and Don'ts
Do...
Keep healthful meals within reach. Keep low-fat frozen dinners, packaged salads, sandwich makings and reheatable pre-prepared meals on hand for hectic, harried days that could leave you reaching for the phone for pizza or stopping for takeout.
Make a point to down at least one glass of water before each glass of an alcoholic beverage. Doing so may help lessen the effects of dehydration and help you eat and drink less in the long run.
Enjoy traditional holiday baking by making simple healthy recipe substitutions that lower the fat and calories in your favorite treats. By including modified treats in your celebration rather than going cold turkey on all your old favorites, you will feel less deprived.
Try to center family entertainment around non-eating activities such as playing a game of football, viewing old family films, watching a holiday movie, or singing carols together.
Offer to bring your favorite reduced-fat or low-carb dish to holiday parties or meals. That way you will be guaranteed that there will be at least one diet-friendly item for you.
Keep walking
All that shopping is a great way to get some walking in, but don't use that as an excuse not to do your regular walk as well. If the weather is inclement, check out walking exercise videos at the library or rent them and return to your outdoor walking schedule as soon as the temperature is friendly again.
Have a small, healthful snack before leaving for a party or get-together to prevent over-indulging on the typically high-fat fare on offer at holidays events.
Don't...
Try to diet during the holiday season. It's hard to stick to a new diet this time of year. Instead, focus on maintaining rather than losing weight.
Drink on an empty stomach. Not only will the beverage have a greater effect on you, it can lead to overeating and overdrinking. Drinks are high in calories and an easy way to pack on extra weight. According to colorie count plus, for example, just one little serving (one and a half ounces) of gin has nearly 100 calories!
Save your calories for a party or holiday meal. By skipping meals the day of or even the day before, you will only set yourself up for becoming overly-hungry which inevitably leads to overeating and paying little attention to portion portion control.
Stand next to the buffet at a holiday party. Serve yourself some small portions of the healthiest foods available and then make your way to the other side of the room. After all, parties are for mingling. If you get caught up in a good conversation, you may never return. But, if you're standing next to the buffet while you're talking, you're sure to reach for more and not even realize how much you're eating.
Eat quickly because you're in a rush. When you eat too quickly, you're likely to eat too much because you don't give your body time to register that you're no longer hungry. Remember, it takes about 20 minutes from the time you eat until your body "knows" it is full. Slow down and take a breather when it's time for a snack or meal.
