It is now the time of year not to set your clocks back by one hour but to set your scale back by 10 pounds. Welcome to the holidays, where good food, good drink and lots of celebrating can lead to extra weight that you can potentially carry around for years. That extra weight can affect your health.
Don’t Say “I Can’t Eat That”
Studies show that when people think of certain foods as “don’t eat” instead of “can’t eat” they tend to avoid them and make healthy choices. The theory is that “can’t” sounds like a punishment whereas “don’t” sounds like a choice. Apparently, it is much easier to have willpower when we view not eating something as our own choice instead of a punishment that is forced upon us.
Look at it this way. As adults, we can eat anything we want, including poison, but we don’t have to eat things that are bad for us.
Keep Regular Habits
Skipping meals, not getting enough sleep and skipping your regular exercise can all lead to weight gain. The holidays are a busy chaotic time, filled with extra activities, commitments and the pressure to fit it all in. It is important to try to keep to your regular habits as much as possible.
If regular habits are impossible, try to at least incorporate exercise into your activities, such as building a snowman, hiking through the woods to gather pine cones, etc.
What to Do About the Goodies
During the holidays, we get the chance to eat special foods that we don’t normally see, so it is a shame to miss out. Moderation is key here. First fuel your body with healthy food, such as having a light meal before a party or first filling your plate at the buffet with vegetables. Then instead of putting everything tempting on your plate, make some careful choices as to what you would really like to taste. You’ll be more satisfied, and you won’t have the extra pounds to lug around later.