Includes: Robe with attached shoulder drape, crown of thorns and wig and beard set. Shoes not included.The holidays are quickly approaching, which means you will soon be facing temptation - stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, pecan pie, Christmas cookies, chocolate, and many more holiday favorites just begging to be eaten. How can you resist?
For most people the holidays mean loosening the belt buckle and making room for a few extra pounds to start the New Year. Many people will work to lose this weight over the next few months while others will watch the scale creep up year after year. This is definitely one holiday tradition to be avoided.
Here are some tips to help you enjoy the holiday fare without sacrificing your waistline.
Portion Control
There is no law that says your plate has to be overflowing at the holidays. Yes, the options are endless and you may want to have some of everything; however, you do not need a normal portion size of everything. This is a good time to cut your normal servings in half to make room for all the extra foods you want and prevent you from carrying the extra calories around for weeks to come.
Seconds
Before heading back to the buffet line or asking someone to pass the potatoes listen to your body. Are you really hungry or just eating more because everyone is still sitting around the table? If your stomach says "no more" start helping with cleanup to avoid the temptation to fill another plate or suggest moving away from the table to continue your conversation.
Desserts
Undoubtedly there will be numerous goodies to chose from. You have two options to avoid calorie overload. Decide which dessert is your favorite and stick with one serving or if several are tempting give yourself "mini" servings of each so you can sample a little of everything without going overboard.
Alcohol
Decide in advance when you will enjoy a drink, for example after dinner only. If you have a plan in place you are less likely to go overboard. One alcoholic beverage quickly adds 200-300 extra calories.
Snacks
Often when we sit around visiting there is a bowl of candy or some other treat nearby. Limit yourself to one or two pieces. If this is not feasible move the treats out of reach or out of sight if necessary. Another option is to wait and have your dessert as an afternoon snack instead of immediately following a meal. Healthier snack choices include mixed nuts, almond bark covered pretzels, or party Chex mix.
Activity
Holidays are intended as a time to spend with family. That does not mean you have to sit all day visiting. You can catch up on what is going on in each others lives when taking a walk after lunch or shooting a game of hoops in the driveway. Look at where your family is gathering and decide what options you have to get up and moving after a filling holiday meal. It is a safe bet that the children at your holiday gathering will not be entertained sitting and visiting or watching a ball game most of the day. Take a break from the adults in the afternoon to interact with younger family members. This will give you a chance to add some physical activity to your holiday.
The holidays are a time for family and friends as well as all the delicious holiday foods. I do not recommend spoiling your holiday fun by trying to count calories. By following a few simple tips you can reduce your normal holiday intake while still enjoying all the foods you like and avoid adding inches to your waistline.
Now, if you want to receive regular heart health and weight loss tips from dietitian Lisa Nelson, go to http://www.enutritionservices.com/f/The_Heart_of_Health.html and subscribe to The Heart of Health today!
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