Tuesday 16 August 2011

Weight Loss During the Holidays: It's Not Impossible!

Christmas and the New Year will be here sooner than you imagine-is your weight loss plan ready for that? Most people write the entire month of December off as one giant step back in their weight loss goals. It's not necessary to sideline your weight loss plan just because the holidays are here; you can still achieve progress while enjoying the holiday foods you love.

Portion Control

One of the most important weight loss tools during the holidays is portion control. We all want to pile our plates as high as we can with mom's excellent food and grandma's cookies, but you need to take a step back from the feast and think. Do you really need two scoops of green bean casserole? Stick to small portions of the foods you love, wait a few minutes after you've finished eating, and then decide if you're still hungry. If you're not hungry, don't eat more! Should you find portion control particularly difficult, you may want to investigate an all-natural appetite suppressant. These supplements can help to curb appetite and ease portion control, especially around the holidays.

Do Indulge-Within Reason!

Most diet strategies don't allow for the things we crave. That's problematic. Studies have shown that we end up consuming more when we eat a desired food after denying ourselves than we would if we had just satisfied the craving to begin with. So, if those brownies on your counter are tempting you, have one. Consider even cutting it in half and seeing if that half satisfies your craving. But please, for your diet's sake, don't go overboard with your little indulgences. Don't deny your cravings, but do limit yourself.

Consider Alternatives

Tradition may dictate that we need mashed potatoes, green bean casseroles with fried onions, and buttery apple pie. However, there are ways to get around the fatty foods with healthier alternatives. Instead of mashed potatoes, consider serving mashed cauliflower. They have similar texture and flavor, but the cauliflower has fewer carbs and is loaded with vitamins. Instead of fried onions, try baking onion ribbons with breadcrumbs to avoid the oil that comes with deep frying. Offer baked apples instead of apple pie; they're still an indulgence and have that delicious apple-cinnamon flavor, but they don't have any of the fat or carbs of the crust.

Skip the Booze

Though it may be difficult to be around Aunt Myrtle without imbibing, try to limit or avoid alcohol all together during the holidays. Alcohol has a very high caloric content, and you don't want to stifle your weight loss with unnecessary calories. Turkey dinner and a cookie may not put you too far back, but add in a few glasses of champagne or beer, and you're looking at another year's resolution to lose that 10 or 20 pounds.

With a combination of willpower and consideration for what you eat, you can survive the holidays without taking a step back in your weight loss. Keep your eye on your weight loss goals, and have a happy holiday season!

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