How to Avoid That Unwanted Weight Gain

Maintaining Healthy Eating Habits Through the Holidays

You start the year off with a New Year’s resolution to get in shape and eat a healthy diet, and then you spend the spring months getting that beach body ready. Summer rolls around and swimsuit season keeps you in the gym and eating right, but Fall quickly turns into the holiday season.

That’s when things start to slip, right? It starts with that leftover Halloween candy that keeps finding its way into your lunch bag, and then October slides into November with the pumpkin spice lattes and the mounds of turkey. By the time December arrives, your jeans are feeling snug and you still have so many family dinners and social outings to attend before New Year’s Day arrives again with the eating right promises.

Sigh. How can you keep the cycle from happening each and every year? How can you try maintaining healthy eating habits through the holidays? Let us help. Here are helpful tips on keeping things reasonable during the holidays and not trashing your diet.

Prepare Yourself For Holiday Season Parties

Since you know the season is coming, you don’t have to let it wreck all of your healthy eating habits. The best mindset to have for the holidays is one of maintenance. Focus on maintaining your current weight because it will be a lot easier to maintain the status quo instead of trying to shave off extra pounds.

It begins with your mindset. Remember that the season will definitely call for a few indulgences. Don’t expect yourself to be able to pass up your grandma’s famous chocolate pie or the fancy cocktail your friend will be serving at the NYE party. Knowing that you are going to slip a couple times will keep you from feeling guilty, and by allowing yourself a few planned indulgences, you will be less likely to crack and binge on an entire basket of sugar cookies.

While you know you will be indulging a little, don’t let that keep you from holding yourself accountable. Calories still count in December! Just save your treats for the special things, those holiday treats that you can’t have any other time of year. Account for those extra calories and plan accordingly.

One of the biggest things that will keep you from blowing it at the buffet table is eating a healthy snack before heading to the party. Don’t arrive at any of your holiday functions starving! Also, when you are allowed to bring a dish, potluck style parties, make sure that you choose a healthy option. Knowing that there is at least one item on the table that won’t kill your dieting habits makes it easier to plan for the other splurges.  Maintaining healthy eating habits through the holidays can be easier than you think.

Enjoy Yourself Without Overdoing it

You want to have fun when you attend all of your holiday functions, and that will definitely mean partaking in some of the holiday dishes. That doesn’t mean you have to go overboard and have a 1500 calorie meal. To avoid overeating at the party, start the day off right with a healthy breakfast. A good-quality meal in the morning can put you on the right track for the entire day.  This is key to maintaining healthy eating habits through the holidays

When you are at the event, avoid standing near the buffet or snack table. When you have all those delicious morsels within arm’s reach, you are more likely to pop a few in your mouth. Grazing is the absolute worst thing you can do for your diet. It is impossible to keep track of how much you are eating, and most times you will eat two or three times the amount of food that you would under normal circumstances.

At mealtime, try to use a smaller plate, like a salad plate, for your meal. It will help you control your portions because you literally won’t be able to fit that much food onto your plate. If you can find a fellow healthy eater, sit next to them. The two of you can help each other stay the course!

Before diving into the spread, survey the options so that you can plan for the healthiest meal. If you know that your favorite red velvet cake is a dessert option, you will know not to waste calories on the creamy artichoke dip. Once the meal is through, pop a mint into your mouth to cleanse your palate and signal to your brain that you are finished eating. If you are at home, you can brush your teeth to get the same effect.

Finally, make a plan for your leftovers. Don’t just leave a pound of buttery sugar cookies to tempt you from your pantry. If you can’t resist the sweets, take them to work and let your coworkers enjoy them. If you have a lot of leftover turkey or meatballs, try to incorporate them into your dinner sometime later in the week. Knowing that the leftovers are going into another meal will keep you from snagging a bite every time you open the fridge.

Related: Not Sure How to Drss for That Holiday Party?

Healthy Alternatives to Sugary or Alcoholic Drinks

Shopping trips to the mall will inevitably mean a quick caffeine fix from Starbucks or your local coffee shop, and everyone knows how many calories those frothy drinks contain. However, it is hard to resist the pumpkin spice lattes and the peppermint mocha hot chocolates. If you simply have to indulge, choose nonfat milk and (if you can handle it) skip the whipped cream. Dark chocolate is always a better option to white chocolate calorie-wise, and you should definitely skip the eggnog. A small glass of eggnog contains over 200 calories!

When it comes to the more festive holiday drinks, it is wise to remember that cocktails, wine, and beer can pack in a lot of empty calories. Any of the drinks with creams like a White Russian or a lot of sugary juices like most punches will be loaded with calories.

Enjoy yourself with something a little on the lighter side. A glass of red wine or clear alcohol mixed only with club soda is a better alternative to a fruity cocktail. Order your drinks on the rocks or neat to avoid the majority of the calories. Another great option is a glass of champagne! Your bubbly will clock in at only 90 calories per glass. You can be festive without ruining your calorie count for the day.

A good tip to avoid overdoing it on the calorie front is to drink a full glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage. Not only will it be better for your waistline, but it will also be better on your head in the morning!

If you absolutely must have a cocktail at your holiday event, here are two choices that will not totally ruin all of your hard work:

• Mojito-Ask for less sugar and extra lime to keep your drink at just 130 calories.
• Cucumber Gin Martini-This sophisticated drink is only 100 calories, you might even be able to enjoy two.

Staying Active During the Busy Holiday Season

Not only are we maintaining healthy eating habits through the holidays, we need to stay focused on staying active.  You probably have your regular workout routine that keeps you fit for the majority of the year, but when the holiday season comes along packed full of obligations, your routine takes a backseat. It can be difficult to squeeze in your hour-long workouts several times per week when you have to do all that baking, shopping, wrapping, and party going. That doesn’t mean you can blow off your cardio completely.

Opt for short 15 or 30-minute workouts several times per week, wherever you can fit one into your schedule. It can be as simple as taking a walk or finding a cardio blast video on YouTube. You can also sneak in a bit of movement while you are doing other things. Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Walk to the corner store instead of driving down the block. Power walk your way through the mall when shopping for Christmas presents. Dance the night away at the company holiday party.

Another way to stay active during the season is by actually enjoying the season! Go ice-skating, take a ski trip, or round up your friends for a day of sledding. The winter weather adds a whole slew of activities that can be enjoyed. No snow in your neck of the woods? Register for a holiday race event! A lot of cities do holiday 5k races. Sign up for one with your friends, and you can have a least one holiday event on your calendar that isn’t all about food.

Pay attention to the holiday sales that pop up this time of year. You may be able to find discounts on gym memberships or yoga classes. Finding a good deal will feel good on the body and the wallet.

Staying Mentally Healthy During the Holidays

While this time of year is full of family, friends, and fun, it can also be a time of year that leaves you feeling mentally and emotionally drained. To combat the effects of the holiday season, you need to lay a good foundation each and every day by getting plenty of sleep. You won’t be able to handle all the necessary functions if you can barely keep your eyes open.

Don’t forget about yourself in all the many obligations lining up in your calendar. Take at least 30 minutes each day that is solely dedicated to you. Read a book, take a walk in the park, meditate, or simply soak in the tub. Whatever you need to recharge mentally should be a daily priority.

Save your sanity by keeping your expectations realistic. Your family is your family, and they are going to act the way that they always act. Don’t expect a miraculous change just because it is the holiday season. That being said, remember that you have every right to say no. You can say no to attending a function and you can say no to letting someone crash on your couch. Your needs matter just as much as anyone else’s, family or not.

Remember to be grateful. It is easy to get caught up in the commercial atmosphere of the season and start comparing your situation to others (especially while scrolling through your Instagram feed.) One of the best ways to stay grateful is by volunteering. Find somewhere to give this season, and it will help you keep things in perspective.

Keeping Calm and Avoiding Stress During this Busy Time of Year

When there are so many things to do, places to go, people to visit, it can be very easy to find yourself feeling overwhelmed and highly stressed. Stress is terrible for your health, your diet (stress-eating is a thing!), and your emotional state. So, de-stressing your life should be made your number one priority.

The best way to combat stress is to plan. Plan out your activities well ahead of time so that you can prepare. You don’t want to be rushed at the last minute trying to wrap a couple gifts, find a dress to wear, and figure out how you are getting to a party. A solid holiday plan will keep the stress levels down to a more manageable level.

Another thing to plan is your weekly menu. Creating a meal plan will help you stay healthy and reduce a lot of the stress over your diet. Plus, it will keep you from scrambling and trying to figure out what is for dinner every night of the week.

Don’t forget to consider your immune system! Take your vitamins and eat as many healthy foods as possible. Falling ill will only add to your stress during this extremely busy time of year.

Finally, make a budget and stick to it. While you may want to buy everything on your loved one’s Christmas list, you will only make yourself stressed out if you wind up with a huge credit card bill at the end of the season. Make a commitment to yourself to stay on track financially.

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When It Is All Over…

After the ball drops and the new year is rung in, life will go back to business as usual, but until then, use these tips on maintaining healthy eating habits through the holidays to keep yourself healthy and happy this holiday season.

More Great Resources:

15 Surefire Strategies to Stay Fit From Thanksgiving to New Years

How to Stay Mentally Healthy During the Holidays

How Do You De-Stress During the Holidays?