How To Get Ahead of Unwanted Holiday Weight Gain
by April Pascarelli
Each year, as the holidays approach, we begin to fret over the same thing - our pants getting tighter...and tighter. This feared phenomenon starts as early as October. We purge on cookies and cake at costume parties and then proceed to binge with Netflix, leftover Halloween candy, and perhaps wine. As November moves in, we have Friendsgivings and Thanksgiving and marathon sessions of holiday baking that takes us all the way through December.
So as visions of stuffing, mashed potatoes, and holiday cookies begin to dance in your head, there is still time to get ahead before getting in too deep. This year certainly will be different as traditional plans could take a backseat due to a looming pandemic. So whether you are planning on a small feast (or two) with family or friends or you play it safe with just your immediate quarantine crew, here are a few healthy tips to take you through the entire holiday season.
Time and again, we tend to think, go big or go home. Though this sounds great in theory, it does not always pan out so well for our waistline, or excess waste, in general.
Consider some serious pre-planning.
Give thought to how many people you will be serving and try cooking and baking in smaller amounts. If the chances are high that you will be the one most likely salivating over the surplus of leftovers, plan for smaller dishes. If possible, have extra Tupperware on hand to send the food to go (with your guests, of course)! When your hunger pangs set in for seconds, you will have no choice but to reach for a piece of fruit or snack on veggies and hummus instead.
And if you are on the other end of hosting, politely say no thank you to that take-home doggie bag.
Speaking of fruits and veggies, be sure to have plenty on hand.
You will need handfuls of healthy options to help keep you satisfied while food-prepping in the kitchen (and from feeling pulled to taste as you go).
As for the usual comfort food favorites, don't deprive yourself of everything. Instead, opt to add in healthy alternatives. Whether you swap butter for unsweetened plant-based or Greek yogurt in the potatoes or replace oil and eggs with pumpkin in your baked goods, you will feel assured that what you eat is a tad lighter. Eliminate calories and fat without sacrificing the flavor. Not to mention the health benefits you will gain from added protein to extra fiber.
Remember to hydrate!
Not only will H2O help to keep you feeling fuller longer (maybe this year you let someone else polish off Grandma's pumpkin pie?) but, it will also flush your body of toxins. Specifically, the sugar, sodium, processed foods, and countless cocktails and mocktails that fill us up while leaving us to run on empty.
And most importantly, get moving!
Even though your usual turkey-trot or Santa run may be canceled this year, that doesn't mean that you can't still lace-up. Many organizations are still offering virtual 5ks, and gyms and studios everywhere have in-person and online options for just about every type of workout these days.
In a nutshell, make sure that you take time to appreciate the holidays and even indulge a little. But, stay one step ahead by staying aware. Take note of what you prep, what you put into your body, and how to keep the calories burning.
A lot goes on between the end of October and the end of the year. And though it feels as if the time flies, it is still a two-month-long process. So, have fun and enjoy every moment, but also feel good while doing it. Resist heading to the point of no return (the point where we take just a small taste that leads us down the path to a late-night nosh session). Remind yourself how good you want to feel when you are thinking of going in for seconds. And remind yourself of how uncomfortable those pants will feel tomorrow if you give in to another guilty pleasure, in addition to that feeling of sluggishness that will undoubtedly set in.
So, enjoy the holidays the best you can during this crazy year, and enjoy yourself. Feeling good is important both inside and out. When we feel good, it shows. And going into this holiday season, staying healthy could not be more important as we head into a new year!