Q: The truth is I have never, ever gotten
through any holiday season without a major weight gain. In fact now that
I am in my 50's, I have not been able to regain the body I had before
the holiday season's of my 40's. I feel depressed and defeated and
really - all I want for Christmas is my waistline. HELP!
A: This is without a doubt the most
common question I hear during this time of the year. Please remember
that every choice is your own. It's time to regain your power, strength
and control so that by January 2nd, you feel not only empowered, but
happier.
Here are the steps I want you to follow right away:
Here are the steps I want you to follow right away:
1. Go into the holiday season with either a 'weight-gain' or
'weight-loss' plan. Either choose to enjoy going crazy, knowing you'll
have to lose 5-10 pounds after January 2nd; or decide to go a little
less crazy and plan on dropping 2-3 pounds by January. If you can't bear
the thought of having to diet, commit to being strict with your food
choices. But remember - it's YOUR choice.
2. Don't give up your workout routine because of your hectic holiday schedule. Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress.
3. Plan holiday get-together's that incorporate fitness, such as sledding parties or snowball fights if you're near a snowy climate, or golf or long walks if you're in a non-snowy environment. One of my favorite tips is to take an evening walk after dinner with your spouse, roommate or neighbor. Even if it's dark outside, you can still walk in places that are well lit or better yet, bring a flashlight and make your night walk adventurous.
4. To remain motivated towards a healthy holiday lifestyle, keep an outfit in full view that you want to be able to fit into by March 1st. Hang that bathing suit or sundress on your bathroom hook.
5. It's not just the holiday extra's that make us fat, but the food related thoughts that consume us. The brain can single handedly shape, sustain and/or sabotage our eating patterns. Trying to change your behavior without changing how you view food can create a lethal, self-destructive outcome. This is the main reason that people typically gain weight after attempting to follow a diet.
6. Only eat dessert if you have room left in your daily calorie budget. Think hard about which events truly warrant a slice of cheesecake. No matter how many special events you have in a week, your over-all calorie budget should remain the same. If celebratory eating is your weakness, it might be smarter to decide how many times a week you can truly afford to have dessert, regardless of the occasion. Don't forget that wine, champagne, beer, Eggnog and Bailey's Irish Cream are similar to dessert calories.
7. If you know that chocolate chip cookies will trigger uncontrollable cravings, which have caused you to binge in the past - stay away from these trigger foods. If you know you can't stop at one or two cookies, then STEP AWAY from the cookie platter at the party.
8. Don't ever attend a party hungry even if it's just a cocktail party. Always eat something filling and healthy before departure.
9. Brush your teeth, even take a toothbrush with you in your purse since everything tastes bad after brushing.
2. Don't give up your workout routine because of your hectic holiday schedule. Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress.
3. Plan holiday get-together's that incorporate fitness, such as sledding parties or snowball fights if you're near a snowy climate, or golf or long walks if you're in a non-snowy environment. One of my favorite tips is to take an evening walk after dinner with your spouse, roommate or neighbor. Even if it's dark outside, you can still walk in places that are well lit or better yet, bring a flashlight and make your night walk adventurous.
4. To remain motivated towards a healthy holiday lifestyle, keep an outfit in full view that you want to be able to fit into by March 1st. Hang that bathing suit or sundress on your bathroom hook.
5. It's not just the holiday extra's that make us fat, but the food related thoughts that consume us. The brain can single handedly shape, sustain and/or sabotage our eating patterns. Trying to change your behavior without changing how you view food can create a lethal, self-destructive outcome. This is the main reason that people typically gain weight after attempting to follow a diet.
6. Only eat dessert if you have room left in your daily calorie budget. Think hard about which events truly warrant a slice of cheesecake. No matter how many special events you have in a week, your over-all calorie budget should remain the same. If celebratory eating is your weakness, it might be smarter to decide how many times a week you can truly afford to have dessert, regardless of the occasion. Don't forget that wine, champagne, beer, Eggnog and Bailey's Irish Cream are similar to dessert calories.
7. If you know that chocolate chip cookies will trigger uncontrollable cravings, which have caused you to binge in the past - stay away from these trigger foods. If you know you can't stop at one or two cookies, then STEP AWAY from the cookie platter at the party.
8. Don't ever attend a party hungry even if it's just a cocktail party. Always eat something filling and healthy before departure.
9. Brush your teeth, even take a toothbrush with you in your purse since everything tastes bad after brushing.
