We all know it’s coming. We can feel it in the air as summer fades and we head straight into fall. Soon the air will be thick with rich holiday smells wafting from the kitchen enticing us to gorge on sweets and goodies that we’ve denied ourselves all year.
It’s a fact that most people will gain their fair share of festive holiday weight during this time of year, but that doesn’t mean you have to set your diet aside completely. It also doesn’t mean that you have to deny yourself a little holiday treat now and then either. The problem most people have is they completely put their diet on hold for a couple of months to enjoy the holidays. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are some tips on surviving the upcoming holidays this year with your belt buckle still intact.
1. Don’t deny yourself. For most of us, there are a couple of days in the holiday months where we are presented with delicious food. It’s ok to eat what you want on these days as long as you limit yourself to just a few days! Just because you ate badly one day doesn’t mean you have to give up the next! If you allow yourself a few days to splurge on your diet, it’s not going to ruin your diet. Plus you’ll have something to look forward to that may help you say no to sweets before the big day.
2. Keep up the exercise. Exercising during the holiday months is crucial if you want to splurge on your diet. By keeping up your daily exercise routine, you can maintain your weight and stay trim through the pieces of pumpkin pie and ice cream.
3. Eat smaller portions. Yes, you can eat pie on Thanksgiving, but try just having a small slice instead of the jumbo one you really want. By eating smaller portions, you still get to have the food you want, but you’re not stuffing yourself silly with high calories foods.
4. Keep a healthy balance. OK, so you ate a large portion of cheesy mashed potatoes. Balance out that meal by eating a portion something healthy like steamed broccoli or spinach. If you’re the one cooking the meal, make sure there are an equal amount of healthy options for every indulgence you cook.
5. Consider why you are eating. Before you take that first bite of gingerbread cookie, consider why you are eating. During the holidays people tend to overeat because they are depressed or lonely. Make sure before you put that cookie in your mouth that you are doing it for the right reasons. If you think you may be depressed, a quick call to a close friend can help alleviate some of your depression.
Dieting during the holidays doesn’t have to be a lost cause. If you allow yourself some treats but still keep up with healthy eating and exercise, you’ll make it through the next few months without even one extra inch.
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