Hello everyone, it is that time of year to be festive and enjoy good moments with people who you love. Now we all know that avoiding all the delicious food that everyone will be cooking for the holiday season is out of the question there are some ways to do your best to try and maintain a little more healthy approach.
‘Tis the season when it’s easy to pack on the one thing we all fear most – those unwanted pounds. If you have been working hard to eat healthy or lose weight, the holidays could prove to be one of your biggest challenges. However, with proper discipline and planning, the holidays don’t have to be a nutritional nightmare.
We have come up with a few ideas that we hope will help you enjoy the holidays while maintaining a healthy perspective.

Be in charge of your environment: Set yourself up for success, sit next to a fellow health junkie – there is strength in numbers. It is always easier to remember your goals when someone is helping you. Be a lookout for each other in managing portion sizes and food intake. It has also been found that eating with a smaller group will help you control yourself. A bigger group means more time around the table, which means more time to try and maintain self-control.

Keep healthy snacks in the office: We all know it can be so tempting to nibble on one of those leftover goodies your coworker brought in, don’t. Stock your desk with healthy alternatives. When you have the desire to try one of those tasty treats, turn to your healthier options. If you do decide to try the delicious double fudge peppermint brownies your boss brought in, do it in moderation. Limit yourself to only one treat to supplement a healthy lunch.
Keep track of what you eat: Maintain a food diary to help keep you committed to your goals. Weigh yourself daily, it will be a constant reminder of where you are and where you want to be. Research shows that women who weigh themselves daily will then act accordingly. Documenting these things will keep you mindful and aware of how you are doing. Review your journal at the end of the day to see where you can improve, and applaud yourself for your accomplishments.

Eat before going to the party: One of the biggest mistakes you can make is heading to the party on an empty stomach. Some may prefer to eat a full meal before so they don’t have to eat while they are there. However, even eating a light healthy snack just before you go can make all the difference in fighting temptations later on. Another option is to bring your own dish to the party, a side of something light and healthy that can be shared with everyone.

Host the party: Of course, as a guest, it’s not as easy to control your environment or bring your own food. Consider the alternative; hosting. As the host, you have the opportunity to control the food and ingredients to offer more healthy options for you and your guests. Another good way to avoid snacking throughout the party is by planning fun activities that require guests to participate. While hosting may take more work and effort on your part, it allows you to suggest these kinds of ideas. It also gives you the best environment to be successful in maintaining your weight during the holidays.

The best approach for attending holiday events is to remember that the food is not everything. Spend more time interacting and engaging in conversation than around the food table. Remind yourself that conversation is calorie-free! Enjoy yourself; make this the year that your New Year’s resolution doesn’t involve dropping those recently gained holiday pounds. With preparation and good decision making, reaching your goals during the holidays can be attainable.

So hope these tips help everyone survive the holiday season and we look forward to seeing everyone in the new year. Speaking of the New Year, let’s not forget about our upcoming Dinner Event that our office will be hosting on January 13th at 7pm. Don’t forget to RSVP with Val by Monday January 6th.

:)

Dr. R