For most of us, the holidays are a time of mixed emotions. You’re excited and anxious to spend time with family, and you’re dreading the extra weight that you know you’re bound to gain. Are these holiday pounds inevitable?
Lean in close to catch these seven secret ways to help you fend off extra weight through the holidays. And once you’re done, don’t keep it a secret. Go tell somebody!
Holiday Secret #1: Listen to Your Body
It may not speak quickly enough all the time, but you know your body is constantly telling you things. Sometimes it tells you to stop a certain activity before you get hurt. During the holiday season, it tells you to put the brakes on your eating before you go beyond the point of no return. When your body tells you it’s full, listen up! A single bite after you’re full will lead to extra calories and eventually, extra pounds.
Holiday Secret #2: Confine the Holidays
For some, holidays become weeks and even months of poor eating. Be careful to avoid this pitfall by digging into your holiday foods only on the actual holiday. Treat the other days like normal days—even if you’re off of work. And when the holiday is over, let someone else take the leftovers home and go to your own house without any pudding or gravy in tow.
Holiday Secret #3: Eat First, Party Second
You read right—it’s good to eat before heading out the door. Have a healthy, well-rounded meal at home with fruits, vegetables, and your protein source of choice. And drink a tall glass of water. Why? So when you get to that holiday party that is overflowing with cookies, cakes, candies, and calories, you’re not hungry for it. Your stomach is full of healthy goodness and has no room for the fattening stuff.
Holiday Secret #4: Plan Your Escape
Getting away from food isn’t easy. If you expect to be able to walk away from delicious thigh- and gut-growing foods without any forethought, think again. Before walking into a potentially fattening situation, plan out what you’re going to eat and take your own dish to share if necessary. Any time there is a particularly difficult eating situation, make plans an hour or so after the dangerous-to-your-diet event begins and excuse yourself.
Holiday Secret #5: Exercise Everywhere
One of the best excuses to gain weight is that you have to travel to visit family and don’t have access to your personal trainer. Well, guess what? Just because your trainer isn’t staying in the hotel with you doesn’t mean you aren’t accountable! Scope out the area where you’ll be traveling and take advantage of whatever exercise opportunities are available. There may be a gym or pool at your hotel, a pay-as-you-go gym, or a nice park nearby where you can walk or run with or without family members.
Holiday Secret #6: Pay Attention to People
Holidays are about family and friends…right? Then stop focusing on food! When you go to a party, there is no need to hang out by the food table when there are people all around you! Ignore the grub and go for the meaningful stuff that you’ll remember and cherish. Besides, it’s much easier to talk without munching and you even listen better when you’re not stuck thinking about how good the next bite is going to be.
Holiday Secret #7: Drink Instead
No, this isn’t a license to drink as much alcohol as you can find. Doing that will add lots of useless calories to your waistline. Instead, do your best to make friends with a glass of water everywhere you go. As you mingle with your water glass, you’ll find it challenging to grab more than a couple of finger foods here and there, and the fact that it is water will help you remember to watch what else goes in your mouth!
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Your Focus this Season
The holiday season is filled with special foods. From decorated cookies to mashed potatoes, it’s one food event after another. For most of us the holiday season becomes more about food than anything else…and you wonder why you gain weight.
This year shift your focus from food to the things that really matter most to you. The season will mean more to you and you’ll look and feel your best.
Festive Hummus (Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil)
While the red and green speckles give this homemade hummus a jolly look, it’s the taste that makes it unforgettable. This dip makes the perfect party take-along. Serve it up with whole grain pita bread or fresh cut veggie sticks.
What you need
Serves 12
1 (15 oz) can garbanzo beans
1 Tablespoons tahini
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon water
2 garlic cloves, mashed
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons soy sauce
4 sun-dried tomatoes
1/4 cup basil leaves
Instructions
1. Throw all the ingredients into a food processor and combine until smooth.
Nutrition
One serving equals 75 calories, 2g fat, 11g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, and 3g protein.
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