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Surviving the Holidays Healthfully

Metro Detroit Mommy Blogger Theresa Walker – BeachBody Coach

One of the most fun-filled times of the year is approaching, the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years holidays.  It is however, one of the most decadent for eating and over-indulging.  A day to relax and enjoy is something we all deserve; however with so many occasions over these two months to gather with friends and family it is certainly an easy time of year to gain 5+ lbs easily!  If you’d rather not start the New Year with an extra few pounds, here are some tips I incorporate before heading out to events. 

1. I have a small protein filled snack before I go, or fruit/veggies, so I am not starving when I get there.  I do NOT skip meals during the day, that is counter-productive as you will over-eat later and mess with your metabolism.  Don’t be afraid to eat your meals prior, just keep them healthy.

2. When I was strictly
dieting, I made a list of what I planned to eat, and what I was going to
cut out, before I went. It helped when I was there to taper back what I
was eating and I stuck closely to my “plan”. When I got back home, I
had to write down what I did eat, and compare, for a little
accountability.  It actually did work well for me.  

3. When I bring something to share, it’s healthy. 
That way, there is for sure something I can load up on that is a little
less guilty.  It’s a good time to make a healthier dessert you’ve been
wanting to try or to ensure there are veggies on the table! 

4. If I am not hungry when I arrive, I don’t eat! I get as FAR away as
possible from the appetizers.  If I don’t see it, I don’t want it. All those calories add up. If I do eat
some snacks, I make sure I deduct something from my dinner plate to even
it out. For example, if I have some chips and guacamole, I will skip the potatoes with dinner.

5. Use a smaller plate if possible, and watch your portions. Load up on veggies and lean meats. Only small portions of carbs and fats.  Think about what a true portion size is as you are placing foods on your plate- for instance a serving of meat is the size of your palm, half cup is a portion of grains etc.

6. Don’t feel like you have to eat a bite of
everything or a huge plate so the host knows you enjoyed the meal.
Don’t be afraid to say “no thank you”. Or skip a side if it’s not
something you really want, save your calories for food you truly enjoy
and are looking forward to.

7. Be cognizant of what you
are eating, don’t mindlessly eat.  Eat slowly, so you can feel when you
are getting full.  If you are full, STOP eating.  Period.  If you get
hungry later, you can go back for more.

8. Take a break between meals.  Wait a 30-90 minutes before you go for
dessert if possible. This will give your food time to settle and you
will feel fuller, thus take a smaller dessert.

9. Dessert…Not sure
about you but often my family has several desserts out, so I only allow
myself one and take a smaller portion.  If I absolutely want to try two, I do so, but take tiny portions of each, to basically equal one normal portion size. 

10. I make sure to make the time to
exercise on these days, even if it’s just 10-20 minutes. You can even
do ten minutes in the morning, ten in the evening when you get back
home, but normally I try to exercise a little longer or at a higher intensity to burn as many calories as I can. 

Theresa W
Author: Theresa W

Theresa is a wife and stay at home mother of 2 boys, David (13) and Aiden (10). Her hobbies include traveling, reading, running, cooking and volunteering at MI Humane Society with the adoptable cats. She also spends her free time serving as PTO President at her son's elementary school. She enjoys being active and is proud to have completed 4 marathons. She loves to share her passion for health and fitness with others.