Tips For Holiday Eating and Stress
Hello and Happy Holidays!
I don't know if you're like me but I absolutely love the holidays. The decorations, the happy vibes, the yummy dinners and cookies, and of course quality time with the family.
I was having a conversation with a client this week who said to me that she wasn't going to eat dinner at her grandmas because she didn't know how to track the calories and didn't want to ruin her weight loss progress. Now, let me tell ya, this broke my heart. Eating food and exercising should NOT be a stressor. Especially over the holidays when you should be focusing your energy on time with your family and friends.
So, here are some truth bombs and some tips for this holiday season for eating and stress!
Truth Bomb 1: You will not get fat by eating a few extra hundred calories during Thanksgiving or Christmas. Also, you will not get skinny by eating a salad. It takes 3,500 extra calories than your normal calories to gain 1 pound. Do you seriously think you're going to eat that many calories at dinner? You're not. Hey, what if you do?! Well, it's a couple pounds, go for a walk and get over it. If you enjoy some extra calories, guess what, you're human and I HOPE YOU DO because what life is a life without Grandma's cooking?
Truth Bomb 2: You gained 8 pounds after Thanksgiving. You have now ruined your months hard work and you're just going to give up..... NOPE. Those "8 pounds" that you gained is actually just a few pounds of water weight and bloating from the increase of salt and carbohydrates. Give it a week and your body will level out again. RELAX. This is a time for fun and happiness and nothing ruins fun and happiness more than Aunt Stephanie complaining about being on a diet when you're trying to enjoy your pumpkin pie.
Tips:
Drink water. Lots of it. This will help flush out the extra salt and bloating.
Build a balanced plate: 1/2 vegetables, 1/4 protein, 1/4 carbs. Example: 1/2 plate of salad and some green bean casserole, 1/4 plate turkey with a little gravy. 1/4 plate cheesy potatoes. Then: 1 serving of pumpkin pie. You are probably full after this, so stop eating. These foods are here all year long and you will be able to eat them again, I promise.
Listen to your body. If you are hungry, eat. If you are full, stop eating. It is that simple. Try not to snack on too much before dinner and focus on getting a nice balanced plate of food. If you are feeling full, you do not have to finish, just stop eating and enjoy your time with your family.
Move. Move. Move during your holidays. Try to stay on your feet and avoid sitting too much. Do at home workouts on days the gym is closed or go for a long walk. The most important thing to remember during the holidays is that just going for a simple walk can burn a few extra calories and really help you in the long run. Stressed about family coming over and all the cooking you have to do? Go for a walk the morning of, the endorphins will help.
Avoid the sugary alcoholic drinks. I for one love the holidays drinks. They are so yummy and flavorful. You know what's also in them? Lots of sugar and calories. So, if you must drink during the holidays, have one of your favorites with all the sugary goodness and then switch to a vodka water to save those calories for dinner.
Just relax. If you gain a few pounds it is okay. It may take a week or two to get the extra weight off but it is not the end of the world.
This holiday season is for memories, laughter, and love. Don't stress about unnecessary things like food and exercise. Simplify it for yourself and just follow these steps above!
Happy Thanksgiving!