Congratulations on successfully resisting all the tasty treats during Halloween; that was definitely not easy! But now, you are in the middle of having food fantasies of the larger holidays: Thanksgiving and the December Holidays. You are determined to meet your weight loss goal and you have many parties and family get-togethers at this time of year. Remember, it is one of your highest priorities, so you can survive the holidays and enjoy them.
These are 10 tips from diet and nutrition experts that will help you stay strong and survive the holiday season while you’re trying to lose weight:
1) “Trim calories wherever you can so you leave the party feeling satisfied, but not stuffed,” recommends Carolyn O'Neil, MS, RD, author of The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous.
Choose your calories – and carbs – carefully. Select foods that are packed with protein and fill up on “free” vegetables as much as possible.
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2) “While you stand around looking posh in your holiday finery, hold a drink in your dominant hand so it won't be so easy to grab food,” recommends obesity expert Cathy Nonas, MS, RD.
Note: The drink in your hand should be water (sparkling or plain), or another sugar-free beverage of your choice.
3) Chew sugarless gum. This will help you resist eating, especially when you're not really hungry.
4) Don’t skip meals in hopes of thinking you can eat whatever you want when you arrive at the party or event. This tactic almost always backfires, and you’ll probably end up either sabotaging your weight loss efforts... or worse, you'll end up feeling really cranky.
"People who skip meals to save up calories tend to overeat everything in sight once they get there," says Katherine Tallmadge, MA, RD, author of Diet Simple. "Eating sensibly throughout the day will take the edge off the appetite and empower a bit of restraint."
5) “When you arrive at the party…wait at least 30 minutes before eating. This will give you time to relax, get comfortable in your surroundings, and survey your food choices…before diving in,” says Tallmadge.
Have a glass of water or 2 while you’re waiting and checking things out. This will help you stay focused on choosing the right kinds of foods and you will also feel fuller before you start eating.
6) Increase everyone’s energy levels by involving your party guests in some fun and games. This will help change the party’s focus from the food and drinks. It's also a good way to burn off some calories.
"The best parties include dancing, so why not make dancing after eating a new holiday tradition for a great form of fun and recreation?" asks David Katz, MD, MPH, author of The Flavor Point Diet.
7) If you do decide to have an “adult” beverage, be sure to drink plenty of water before and after. Better still, avoid the alcoholic drinks altogether since they are loaded with empty calories.
8) Ignore the appetizers when there is a main course being served. Avoid desserts as well.
9) If you just can't resist, go ahead and indulge in your favorites – but do so in moderation. Rather than binge, have a taste or very small sample.
10) Politely refuse to take any of the decadent leftovers home with you…but don’t hesitate to offer those leftover healthy veggies a good home!
With these tips in mind, you can relax and enjoy the holiday season – all while staying on track with your dieting and weight loss plans.
Related Resource:
WebMD Top 10 Holiday Diet Tips of All Time
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