MY TRICKS
Having kept off 35lbs for about 6 years now, learning to manage holiday season has been highly important! So here are some of my tricks for enjoying the season and maintaining my weight loss.
#1 Family Action: It’s easy to just sit chatting away the day, but I have found the most amazing bonding happens when we all get out and move. Sometimes that means finding a local gym that’s open to shoot some really bad baskets or even just taking a walk to enjoy the fall colors.
#2 Indulge: That’s right it’s the holidays and you deserve to enjoy yourself! Think like a French woman and choose to eat only the things that are going to make your mouth sing, ignore all the other unworthy treats and savor the best.
#3 Slow it down: I don’t know about your family, but I know it takes about 10 times as long for the meal to be prepared as it does for it to be Hoovered down by the gang. It’s easy to get caught up in conversation and not even enjoy the meal you’ve been so looking forward to…try to put your fork down between bites so you know you aren’t eating too fast, which of course leads to seconds…ok thirds if your are talking about stuffing in my case.
Enough about me…due to BlogHer rules head over here to leave your tip and enter to win.
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Gratitude Journal
Nov 15
I am grateful for fun giveaways
I am grateful when I don’t have to ship anything
I am grateful when it will really help someone
I am grateful when it’s about health
I am grateful for all your tips!
35 comments:
My tip during the holidays, is moderation. share that piece of pie with someone. ask for a to-go box early in a meal if eating out, and put some aside for later. avoid seconds. I like to enjoy a little bit over everything, but not too much of anything!
My favorite tip is do everything together! The holidays are a wonderful time with family and friends. Let your family and friends know your plan to get through the holidays without developing the physique of a snow man at the end. Sharing your goals helps you and those closest to you! Also, invite them to join you in a fun and active opportunity - whether it's a festive 5k, ice skating, brisk walking through the mall (aka shopping), etc.
The best advice I can think of is PLANNING AHEAD. Chances are you know when the holiday potlucks, family dinners and cocktail parties are going to be. Plan your days accordingly... decide when and where you will enjoy your indulgences and when you need to tighten the reigns. Get extra exercise... fill up on healthy foods ahead of time... drink your water! All of these steps are key in being PREPARED for the holiday challenges ahead!
I only have a few little tips, but here they are!
1.) I carry a 30oz water bottle and I try to fill it up and empty it 4 times a day. This helps me feel full, keeps me hydrated(the most important part) and it lowers my body temperature, causing my body to work harder to keep warm.
2.) I keep a pack of gum and a healthy fiber/protein bar on me at all times. If a craving hits I'll go for a stick of gum or eat the nutrition bar. Most of them taste like candy anyhow XD
3.) An hour or so before a big feast, have a bowl of warm vegetable broth or a 1/2 cup of black beans. The broth will make you feel more full, and the black beans are high in fiber and protein, also making you feel more full. Then have a 2-bite portion of the foods at the "feast" - you're not missing it!
4.) I use holiday shopping as my "exercise excuse" - it's not spending money, it's exercise!
The best advice I can give is get some incentive! I run because if I didn't I wouldn't have any incentive to eat healthfully. So whether it be to exercise, for a loved one, for yourself remember why you want to be healthy and that by eating badly it holds you back from achieving all that you want!
My advice is to keep up the workouts and to only eat what you REALLY want and love! No use eating that green bean caserole if you only 'kind of' like it. Save the calories for those things you love! Also, don't over indulge on liquid calories. A hot chocolate or small cup of eggnog is okay. But, not every day and think twice before you grab another cocktail at the office party (for more reasons than just the calories, too!).
Great giveaway!
I tweeted @shebajc
My favorite tip is to have one of everything. One bite of this, one bite of that. I tell my family "I'm saving room for that pumpkin pie", or whatever. By the time the pie comes out, I'm "too full for a full piece!"
Drink a glass of water before each meal/snack. Helps to fill up the tummy before that extra slice of pie can get in there.
My tip would be to put together a game of flag football in the back yard while everything is cooking. Literally, everyone can play, even the little kids have fun.
My best tip is to let myself have what I really, really want and stay away from the stuff that doesn't look and taste fabulous. I also try to stay full on healthy foods so I'm less likely to go overboard on junk. Finally, if something is going to be available for nibbling (like food in the lounge at work), I try to not even get started on it because once I start, I'll take a nibble every time I walk by.
Be picky!
I'll choose special items like my grandmother's almond cookies that she only makes at Christmas, and avoid run-of-the-mill stuff I can get anytime during the year. Even though I feel like I'm eating decadently, I'm really not overeating. I'm being picky and only going for the best stuff.
Well...call me a party pooper...but actually, I don't really have this holiday buzz-gene. Don't know why, I just don't really care for all the 'good holiday food'...and that actually keeps me from overeating or eating to much of the fatty stuff. ;) Don't really want to call 'don't like the holiday season' a tip, though. ;)
My best advice is to keep up the workouts because the holidays can be very stressful and there's no better de-stresser than working out. The trick is to mix it up a little so it fits in with your holiday plans -- for example, ice skating with the kids or go snowshoeing instead of a run so you can be with family but get your workout in!
i am keeping a food journal and weekly, my friend and i are emailing what we have eaten to each other....i know it's an "old fashion" way of watching what you eat but it seems to work for so many! we started last week and are going until the end of January!
This year I am trying a new techique, instead of just moderation on the holiday, I am trying to cut around 100 calories a day through the entire season, it's really not hard to do, a slice of cheese here, a cookie from the never ending tray of office cookies there, this way when the actual holiday comes I can enjoy without deprivation.
And I agree about getting up and moving, my sister in law and I always go for a walk on Thanksgiving, it's as much a tradition as the turkey!
Stay in your routines. Keep up your workouts and your sleep schedule as much as possible. Try to eat normally at functions. Enjoy the holidays for the relationships - not just as an excuse to go crazy on food.
Drink only water! The cider, the champagne, the wine, the soda can all be tempting this time of year, but the calories add up significantly! And running a 5K the morning of Thanksgiving is always a fun & healthy tradition we have before our big dinner! :]
My tip is to keep the workouts regular. I also like to eat a big bowl of broccoli for lunch when I'm indulging more. That way, I'm swapping a low cal lunch for my regular one. It helps me!
This Thanksgiving I’m planning on keeping a food diary and making sure I don’t go over on calories.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
Use a small plate, if you can't fit it on you can't over eat...unless you go back 20 times :)
i need a plan. i need the plan to be in writing. i need the plan to be posted where i will see it every day. i need sparkly stickers to mark off completed workouts.
yes, i'm a teacher. yes they are the same stickers that i give to my high school seniors taking calculus. what can i say...it works for me :) and even though i'm traveling for both christmas and thanksgiving, you better beleive that i will be bringing the plan/magnets, and stickers along with me.
My tip is that everything should be in moderation. If you know you have a big party coming up and you will want to splurge...exercise a few extra times that week and make sure your other food choices for the week are healthy so you can splurge a bit!! If you deny yourself all the good stuff, you tend to splurge more!
Holiday health tip. Just one? Okay.
For me one of the best stratgies is to drink water. Whether I am around the house cooking, at a party socializing, sitting down to the "big" meal, I am better able to enjoy the holiday festivities and all that goes with it but keeping myself hydrated and "full." This keeps me fromn over indulging simply becuase things taste so good. This habit helps with the rule of three. Three bites. The first one is impluse, the second is reflex but that third bite you enjoy beyond that; ask yourself, 'Do I really need more?' Most times the anwser is no.
No elastic waist pants, no matter how cute they are, no baggy top or bulky sweater, when you are seeing how good and tone your body is in a nice fitting outfit, it is very hard to want to eat junk and go back to having muffin tops.
Use a small plate at function, enough to try things out but not to over indulge, carry a snack bar in your purse so you never go to a fuction hungry, my favorite is the Powerbar Harvest energy bars any flavor, very feeling and a good treat.
I always keep granola bars in my purse so I have an option other than the "family" snack options. And I carry water everywhere!
my tip...bring something i can eat that's healthy and fill my plate w/ veggies. then i can afford to have dessert!
1) stay well hydrated and drink a lot of water! not only is this good for you but sometimes it is easy to confuse "im thirsty" with "im hungry"
2) keep you eyes on the prize! remember your health and fitness goals. Is that big slice of cheesecake more important than shaving off 30 seconds from your 5k PR?
3) DON'T go to a party starving! Eat a small, healthy meal before going and then you will not be temped to eat everything in sight.
4) Make sure you are eating every 3-4 hours to keep your blood sugar stable and to keep your metabolism humming. Keep healthy snacks on hand like almonds, fruit and greek yogurt.
5) Even when you are super busy try to sneak in 20 mins of activity!!
1. I'm planning to run a 10k Thanksgiving morning. This is something that my husband & I try to do every year.
2. I plan to drink lots of water before & during big holiday meals.
3. I am going to continue to work out during the holidays...no time off.
My most-utilized tip is for dining out, which we all do during the holidays when friends are coming and going in and out of town...it's an easy way to meet up, but so easy to fall of the wagon!
Split the apps, meal, dessert. If you absolutely want your own, make it two meals and order a to-go box when the meal comes and enjoy the rest later.
there are a ton of great tips here!!
like someone else said, try to stick your routines, I think that will be the biggest saver when it comes to prevent weight-gain during the holiday season!
I try to keep my holidays meals semi-normal by choosing smaller portions of several items and making sure my plate feels as heavy as a plate at a normal meal, NOT 20 pounds piled on there! This helps me think about the actual proportion of food I'm consuming.
Remember its only a couple weeks. It makes no sense to have your children be careful with their halloween candy only for them to see you go crazy with the hoilday treats.
Set good examples and practice what you preach!
I always volunteer to make veggies when my family is deciding who's bringing what for Thanksgiving. Otherwise, there's a good chance that there will be nothing green on the table.
good tips. I think the hardest thing is family that thinks I'm a crazy eater.
I think that only eating very special treats is helpful (no store-bought, etc.) in small portions. Walk around a lot shopping and enjoying the cool weather!
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