How to have a healthy holiday | Opinion

Maybe because I am a fall baby, but I just love this time of year! Our temperatures cool down (eventually), and the sun is a bit gentler. Even though the holiday season is busy, I enjoy listening to Christmas music (Yes, I have 99.9 FM on!), spending quality time with friends and family, and, of course, eating good food. ‘Tis the season to be jolly! However, we don’t want to start looking like Santa Claus! I always tell my clients and fitness class members this is NOT the time of year to decide to lose a ton of weight, but we can maintain. Make your goal holding steady and not putting on holiday pounds. We do that by making wise choices, partaking in moderation, and being intentional. Here are some holiday tips to help prevent the “gobble ‘til you wobble” syndrome.

Make sure to drink plenty of water. Our brains are 75% water, so when we hydrate, we can make better decisions. Water also helps keep your tummy full! Water can help combat the extra salt you will most likely take in over the holidays.

When eating a holiday feast, take a small amount of everything you want rather than stacking up the piles. This way, you’ll get a little taste of everything!

If you know a party will have a lot of fattening sweets, eat a piece of fruit before you head out. This way, you will curb your sweet tooth a bit and won’t overdo it. 

With large meals, eat your favorite dish first. When you are getting full, you won’t be tempted to stuff yourself since the remaining items aren’t your favorite. When we save the best for last, we will always find room. 

At banquets, smorgasbords and all-you-can-eat functions, eat your salad and veggies first! Fill up on foods high in fiber and nutrition for you, which will keep you jolly the entire season.

Limit your alcohol consumption. Personally, I don’t drink. The reality is alcohol is a poison and is difficult for our bodies to eliminate. Alcohol, especially holiday drinks, is full of empty calories. They have too many calories for such a small thrill, in my opinion. I much rather eat my extra calories! It’s all about choices. Pick and choose where you are willing to indulge a bit but just remember it all adds up. Be mindful of the “buzz.” The sweeter the drink, the harder it is to feel the effects of the alcohol, and you may overdo it.

When eating your meals, put your fork down in between bites. This ensures you will chew more slowly, and it gives your body a chance to let you know if you are full or not. The faster we eat, our body doesn’t have the opportunity to inform us, “Hey, we’re full!” Slow eating is better for our digestion, too.

Remember leftovers are just as good — if not better — than the original meal! Don’t feel like you must eat everything in one sitting. Save some things for the next meal. At restaurants, ask for the to-go box with the meal. You will feel the pressure to have something to actually put in the to-go box.

If you are overbooked with several parties on one day, don’t eat a full meal but “graze.” Have a little bit at each. Go back to the first tip and drink plenty of water between parties.

Go light on condiments like gravy, salad dressing, and butter. The little things have more calories than you could ever imagine and are full of sugar and salt. They can really catch up with you. Save the calories for the really good stuff!

Even though your schedule will be packed, don’t forgo the exercise. Back to my original suggestion of maintaining, you will need to burn the extra calories you are consuming. Calories in/calories out! Besides, exercising will keep your energy up for all those fun parties! Even a brisk walk can make a difference.

Get plenty of sleep, especially after those late-night parties. When we are sleep deprived, we immediately grab the wrong things in an attempt to boost our energy. You will not only overeat, but you will eat crap. Bad foods can disrupt our sleep, and you are now in a vicious cycle.

Know your limits. If you have reached your max for social events, just say, “No.” We all need some down time, and no one likes a scrooge! How you say “no” makes all the difference. Be polite and kindly decline or be creative and think of an alternative that may not be as time consuming. Just don’t say “yes” to everything and then regret it and not enjoy it.

Remember the reason for the season! Celebrate with those you love and focus on the many blessings you have. Although food makes the holidays fun, the holidays should be about gathering together and enjoying the moments. 

May your season be Merry…and healthy.   

Lorraine Bossé-Smith, CPT, CNC, CBA infuses hope, inspires change, and ignites transformation for individuals and companies through coaching, consulting, and training. She is the author of nine published books and wants to improve the quality of your life! To learn more or to contact her please go to thetotalyou.biz