Blog #6: How to Avoid Those Holiday Love Handles

It really is the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas...family, friends, holiday spirit and of course, the part everyone is really looking forward to, FOOD! Whether it’s your Mama’s prime rib, Mrs.Laura’s homemade apple pie or chugging eggnog to avoid your Uncle who keeps asking what your grades look like for last semester, the extra calories seem to add up unexpectedly and rapidly! All of the sudden you’re left wondering why you look like you’re ending your second trimester after Christmas dinner... Well no fear! Today’s blog post will provide tips and advice on how to avoid putting on the pounds during the holiday season! This way, you can actually enjoy your favorite Christmas munchies without the ever impending guilt that follows. 

#1: Don’t starve

Many people think that in order to “save” calories for that yummy Christmas Eve dinner, he or she has to go on a strict grapes and rice cakes diet the days preluding the holiday. This is not such a good idea. Eating healthy and regularly maintains a person’s metabolism and the body’s ability to regulate glucose. According to WomensHealth, studies have shown eating irregular meals, like only once a day, impairs your glucose tolerance so you can't use it as effectively. Also, when a person’s body thinks its starving, it goes into survival mode. What does this mean? Anything you eat in regular amounts from there on is storing as fat to use. Basically, your body freaks out and goes into panic mode, and when you let all the reigns go on that big Christmas meal your body is going to overload with food and store it all. Instead...

• Eat a heart breakfast

 Especially the day of your big Christmas dinner. If you starve the entire day and your body is running on only fumes, you are more likely to over eat! It makes more sense to eat a solid breakfast, a snack or light lunch with lots of greens and veggies, and then enjoy your yummy dinner! This way you won’t go into dinner looking to eat the plate, the silverware and anyone or thing that crosses the plane of your mouth, too. 

• Workout the day of!

You will feel much better about your meal choices if you exercise and expend calories. This way it’s not just food entering and entering, but also energy is being expended. Plus, you’ll need to recover after your workout! (So yes, take that extra scoop of mashed potatoes)

#2: Drink plenty of water

It’s always a great idea to keep your body properly hydrated. However, especially at dinner, take big gulps of water in between bites of food! I know it helps me to eat my food slowly and take 2-3 sips of my drink in between munches. This way, I am left feeling full and satisfied without eating unnecessary additional food. 

#3: EXERCISE

That’s right, get up and get out! The more you expend energy, the better chance you will have at fighting off the winter blues. Exercising generates a production of endorphins, which is the hormone that makes you happy. Endorphins will help you feel better on a daily basis whether its concerning your overall mood or outlook on self- image! And yes ladies, shopping at the huge mall for hours does give your legs a good workout and offers some cardio. (We can tell ourselves that...)

#4: Workout with a buddy

Every year when my sisters and I come home from college, we workout with one another over Christmas break. & Every year on Christmas morning we run to our high school stadium, do sprints on the track, stadiums in the stands, some core and then walk home after were done. Working out with family, friends or a significant other is a fun way to get over the concept of working out. This makes things fun, competitive and now you’ve got someone to hold you accountable! 

#5: Practice self- control

The hardest of all the tips. This doesn’t mean stay away from any and all Christmas cookies... This simply means instead of having 15 cookies right when they come out of the oven, settle for a few. When my family and I bake and decorate cookies, we cut out the shapes, bake them, let them cool and then ice them! I specialize one or two cookies so I know they are for me and then once they cool I decorate and enjoy! This way, youre not denying yourself the undoubted right of Christmas goodies but still consuming them in moderation. Moderation is key. 

#6: Avoid carb overloading

This tip is simple. Try to avoid carbing up during the holiday season. Days before your holiday dinner, turn to leafier options or get your wheat bread sliced thinner than usual. The night of your holiday meal, maybe try to avoid getting the twice baked potato casserole AND the mashed potatoes. Have one roll instead of three. My game plan is to stick to lean and protein filled options. My mom makes an amazing prime rib for Christmas, so my plate typically looks like the lean meat, any and all vegetables, one croissant and a small scoop of twice baked potato casserole (because who can resist that Godly treasure). 

#7: Treat yo self

Tis’ the season people! Treats are a right of passage in this holiday season. The trick is MODERATION. Or else you’ll find yourself on a five week sugar high... One or two days of splurging will not mess up a healthy and clean diet. 

        #8: Don’t micro-manage

Don’t stress!! The more you try to micro-manage the way you eat during break, the more likely you are to throw your healthy diet away and emotionally invest in some casserole. Just keep it simple, folks. Eat clean when you can, exercise and stay active and allow yourself to enjoy some yummy treats! 

           

 Happy Holidays & Have a very Merry Christmas! 

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/dont-starve-after-over-indulging