By Jay M Scott
The Holiday Season is here again. This is your coveted time to forget about your cares and sorrows and rejoice with family and friends. Unfortunately, we usually do a little too much celebrating this time of year, and that excess celebration is often in the form of food and drink. This all adds up to a little (sometimes a lot) of extra baggage when the New Year appears.
Let us resolve this holiday season to buck the trends and avoid the Seasonal Seven (The average weight most of us will gain between Thanksgiving and the New Year). Yes it's true most people do gain that much over the holidays and I'm sure you don't want to be a part of this statistic. Santa's job prerequisites are to be round and jolly, but I seriously doubt its part of yours! Well the jolly part is ok, you can keep that.
Moderation is the word of the season (at least as far as diet, don't get me involved in your gift expenses!). It's the secret to achieving a fun but also healthy holiday time. Try to use this mantra concerning what you eat (or don't eat) and also how much you exercise. This will help you avoid packing on weight AND also partake in all of the fun of this time of year. So start this season with a determined note now instead of starting in January with lots of extra pounds to lose.
Here are ten tips to help you avoid shaking like a bowl full of jelly January 1st!
1. Don't try to stick to an overly restrictive diet this holiday season. If you enjoy your favorite foods in small portions you'll feel more satisfied. Trying to stay away from certain foods may make you feel deprived, which may cause you to eat more than you intended to.
2. Don't let stress get you down, take time for yourself. Although spending time with family and friends is essential, it's also important to carve out some relaxation time (at least five minutes) for yourself. Stress can lead to overeating so this is an important tip that will improve your health mentally and physically.
3. Stay active with seasonal activities. Try ice skating or building a snowman with the kids/grandkids. Go for walks and enjoy the beautiful winter landscape. Lift that turkey over your head 20 times before placing it on the table (that was a joke, DO NOT attempt this!)
4. Drink plenty of water. Although the cold weather may make you less inclined to grab a glass of water, it's just as important during the winter as in the summer. Water helps counter the dehydration effects of travel, and it may also help satiate your appetite since thirst is often mistaken for hunger.
5. Spread out meals. Don't feel like you have to eat everything at once. Try eating dinner early and then taking a walk before sitting down for desert. Waiting that extra time will give your body time to register it's full.
6. Don't aim for perfection, and enjoy the imperfections. There is no such thing as the perfect party or the perfect decorations or the perfect way to spend the holidays. Don't set yourself up for disappointment by putting unrealistic demands on yourself.
7. Avoid or limit liquid calories. Many popular holiday beverages contain stimulants and alcohol. These substances are only a temporary escape from stress, and you may end up worse off when the effects wear off. Remember alcohol is a very calorie rich substance. So keep these drinks out of the picture and have a cup of tea or coffee instead.
8. Don't set unrealistic exercise goals. Keep your exercise sessions at an hour or so, 2-3 times a week. This should give you plenty of time for your shopping, socializing, and other festivities.
9. EAT on Thanksgiving and Christmas. These holidays come but once a year...so enjoy them to the maximum. Eat anything you want at Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner. After that meal though, watch your calorie intake the rest of the day. In other words eat one big meal and don't eat tons of food the rest of the day. Just snack.
10. Make your workouts a priority. Get on a consistent and effective exercise program. Make sure it incorporates weight bearing exercise and cardiovascular conditioning. Like stated earlier this will take 3 hours a week max, so were not talking about an unattainable goal. Set aside that hour in advance to keep from procrastinating.
Well, there we have it, 10 tips that WILL work if you put them into practice. Remember, the holidays can be fun and enjoyable without being gluttonous and stressful. Oh, and don't tell Santa I made fun of his jellylike midsection or I might end up with coal in my stocking!
Jay Scott is the Owner and Founder of CE-Fitness, Lexington's premier Personal Training business. He is a Certified Fitness Trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association, NPC National Level Bodybuilder, Fitness Model, and has over a decade of experience in the field of Personal Training. Contact him by email at jay@cefitness.net or by phone at (859) 576-4453.
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