The holidays are here! It is a time for good cheer, connecting with loved ones, gifting, and when excessive overeating can become the norm. So that you are not at square one at the beginning of the New Year, making yet another resolution to shed unwanted pounds… here are some ways to keep your waistline in check tomorrow and over the rest of the holiday season.
Increase your physical activity (aka earn your meals). Eating more is never an issue, the biggest problem is that we do not increase our level of activity to compensate for large holiday meals. If you set yourself up to burn what you may consume, you are less likely to wake up the next day and notice an increase on the scale.
Pick your cheats. If you are currently reducing or eliminating certain foods or alcohol from your diet, it’s a great idea to decide before the meal what you want to indulge in and how much. When we set limits beforehand and give ourselves some room to enjoy, we are less likely to allow that one bite to become the gateway to overeating our restricted foods.
Find healthy substitutions. Making healthier choices should never be about complete deprivation. Most of the holiday foods you love can be enjoyed; it’s a matter of finding substitutions for ingredients to increase the quality of the nutrition. Instead of white flour you could do almond flour, instead of sugar you can use fruit without added sugars, instead of dairy and heavy cream you can use plant-based substitutes etc.
Eat mindfully. During the holidays some of us save our appetite for one big meal, and then end up overeating. Mindful eating is the practice of staying present while eating, pausing between bites, and listening to your bodies’ cues so that you don’t end up too full. When you feel you have had your fill, make sure you stop eating. If you still need to get in dessert, you can wait a few hours until the rest of your food has properly digested. Keep in mind that leftovers will be around, so you don’t have to go overboard at dinner.
Hope you all have a wonderful day tomorrow with family or friends, no matter the distance. Let’s make sure to take a moment every day to be grateful for all we have. -XO