It tastes and smells so good, that traditional holiday feast we look forward to each year. I would however bet a warm pumpkin pie that none of us are looking forward to the potential weight gain that goes along with that holiday feast.
While there is comfort in knowing we’re not the only ones paying the price of too many mashed potatoes, yams, dressing and meat, wouldn’t it be nice to know you could still enjoy the feast without the weight gain?
After years of thinking and worrying about this very question, I began experimenting and examining the issue of holiday weight gain. What I learned surprised me.
I wasn’t eating to enjoy the act of being with my family during the holidays; I was overeating in order to avoid the pressure of the whole holiday season. It was as if I was telling myself that if I could just stay at the table, laden with all my favorites, and with the people I loved and cared about, I could hopefully just skip the rest of the holiday events to come: stressing over the perfect gift, rushing to parties and business receptions, shopping for the right dress and then making sure I spent equal time with relatives on both sides of the family. I didn’t want to be exhausted and worn down.
What I became was bloated, heavier, irritable and angry at myself for overeating. And did I mention the indigestion that accompanied it all? Something had to change and that was me and my habits.
I found five tips for facing the holiday turkey without feeling I was drowning in gravy. Here’s what worked for me and will, no doubt, help you on the festive days as well:
1. Get some form of exercise on the day you have a holiday event. Doing so will help you be more aware of what your body needs and become more conscious of what you put into it.
2. Eat three meals today, along with a couple of snacks, just as you would every day. It’s all about portion control.
3. Have a protein drink (1 scoop of protein powder mixed in water) approximately one hour prior to dinner. This will help you feel a little fuller so you’re not as hungry when you sit down to dinner.
4. Eat slowly. Count to twenty when chewing your food so that enough saliva is present in your mouth to assure proper digestion.
5. When you’re tempted by the array of desserts, go ahead and select just one. Relax an savor it with a cup of hot tea.
Implement these five tips and you’ll get to enjoy the holidays even more.
