Holiday cheer is in the air; present in the tantalizing aroma of Thanksgiving turkey and grandma’s homemade apple pie. But indulging in the spirit of the season’s many delectable meals doesn’t have to take a toll on your waistline.
Here’s a few easy ways to avoid packing on the pounds this holiday season.
Work 20 minutes of exercise into your schedule at least five times a week
Trust me, I know dragging yourself to the gym in cold, snowy weather is anything but easy, but try to motivate yourself to do so anyway. Refuse a glass of egg nog or a Christmas cookie if you fail to do your exercise for the day.
Remember, everyone slips once in a while, but do your best to avoid making excuses to justify a lack of self-motivation!
Watch out for those elusive “liquid” calories
Don’t forget that all those glasses of egg nog you slam back on Christmas Eve are loaded with calories!
Load up on the salad and vegetable dishes
Try to avoid filling your plate with potatoes and rolls, and opt for copious servings of all the “veggie” dishes available, including salad. Load up on turkey and other lean protein dishes present as well- filling up on lean proteins will limit your appetite for those dangerous, “post” dinner desserts!
Eat as much of “the healthy stuff” as you can before “the bad stuff”
Don’t start your meal off with the rolls and cheese platter- start with the salad, vegetable dishes, and turkey instead.
Don’t be afraid to say “no”
Relatives are notorious food pushers during the holiday season, and nobody wants to offend Nana by declining her famous artichoke dip.But remember, turning down food because you’re full or watching your calorie intake is not going to ruin a relative’s day. And if you truly believe it will, there’s always the old “fake allergy” exit strategy…
Don’t deprive yourself
The easiest way to end up overindulging this holiday season is to deprive yourself of the holiday foods you truly love.
So go ahead, have a slice of the pumpkin cheesecake. Simply limit your plate in other departments. Load up on the mashed potatoes, and avoid the buttery rolls. Nobody wants to obsess over calories during holiday dinners; the key is moderation!