It’s that time of year again, the time of year when we stand in the grocery aisle waiting on our turn to purchase all the goods we are picking up to feast on at that next holiday get together. While we wait we have the opportunity to check out all the magazine covers. If you have little ones that try to touch all of the last minute purchase items strategically located in the check out line, you are probably just surviving the wait, saying “don’t touch that” over and over. But, if you are in the ‘I see all the magazine headlines’ camp, you’ll notice a hefty number telling you they have the answer when it comes to the dreaded “holiday weight gain.” You’ll find tricks to help you not overeat sprinkled in between the low fat dessert options. Everyone has the answer to losing the weight or not even gaining it in the first place.
As always, I’m going to need some grace and here’s the paragraph I’ll preemptively ask for your forgiveness. Here it goes. Are we seriously blaming Thanksgiving and Christmas for our waistlines? We are smarter than that, right?! I know some of you are shouting in your minds, Rita, it’s more than two days. I have office parties, kids parties, three thanksgivings and six Christmases. Well guys, I get it. I didn’t pull those numbers out of thin air. Those are my actual average yearly numbers and I didn’t even count Christmas morning breakfast at my own house with my kiddos. So let’s add that up, around 13 festive meals over a month and a half time span. Yeah, I’ll admit that’s a lot. But I’m still sticking to it, don’t blame the holiday. Rather, I’m going to tell you to enjoy every single bit of the season without the guilt. Here is a quick list of how I do so. Note: it doesn’t involve changing any of your recipes.
1. Find Joy
Where is your joy coming from? What brings you the most joy? Is it the extra slice of pie and serving of dressing? Or, is it the people and spirit of the season? I’ll tell you what, my favorite thing is visiting with people, that feeling of warmth and sparkle that can’t really be described. Think about it, everyone is obsessed with hallmark holiday movies. What is it you enjoy about those movies, what’s memorable? The treats they were eating or the love, joy, snow, cheer and happiness? This is my first tip for a reason, joy is king. If you are living a life of thanks and gratitude it’s unlikely you are going to be needing to find your holiday joy at the bottom of the dessert dish or pot of mashed potatoes. Give more, worry less, practice kindness and gratitude, you will find joy.
2. Eat The Pie
Do you want to eat the dressing, mashed potatoes, a piece of pie? I may not have hit your favorite food, but whatever it is for you, eat it. Why deprive yourself? Speaking from experience, deprivation always leads to overdoing it later. So go for moderation rather than deprivation. Moderation for me at most holiday meals looks like partaking in the whole slice of pie but saying no to seconds. If you do have seconds, it’s still ok. Just remember tip number one (the part on where your joy comes from). Partaking and participating in traditions keeps us feeling included. I think the number one reason people who are actually willing to work toward their health goals fail, is it becomes too hard to feel excluded from life. So be included and enjoy it!
3. Eat Your Greens
You knew it was coming right? The last several Christmases I’ve taken a good spinach salad with homemade dressing…. and a plate of homemade chocolate goodness to most of the gatherings. But I honestly have been treating my body good nutrition wise for long enough that I can’t do six Christmases without a good solid vegetable. So when I fill my plate I make sure I’m getting greens in there with the pie potatoes and ham. I know if I want something in particular, it’s my responsibility to make sure it’s there. So I’ve tried to make veggies a holiday go-to for my contribution (especially during the six Christmas marathon) and it’s been a bigger hit than expected. The greens also make holiday meals less of a departure from my normal healthy lifestyle.
4. Move More
Catching a Hallmark movie? Throw down some planks and pushups. Do a few squats while you watch. Trust me, you have no idea how little it takes to make a difference. Not watching Hallmark? Planks and jumping jacks while that pie is baking. Its not hard and doesn’t have to take long. Just make some movement happen! That’s all for number four.
5. Drink Water
If you are having a soda with your Thanksgiving turkey, definitely don’t blame the holiday. It’s the soda. Drink water, plenty of it. Even if I’m not over eating, often these big meals still leave me feeling sluggish and in carb overload. Drinking extra water will help flush out your system and feel better.
6. Don’t Skip Meals
I think a lot of women especially, do this. We think since we are going to have a big meal later we should skip meals to “save” all of our calories for the day. Let’s stop being crazy. Eat some breakfast if you are going for a holiday lunch. No, maybe you shouldn’t go for the buffet but at least have an egg or two. Skipping usually leads to over eating later, because you feel like you earned it with that missed meal. Skipping meals to save up is not a good game plan. If you disagree, try it my way once and see what happens.
I have lived all three types of holiday eating, overstuffed, deprived and mostly well balanced with a side of slightly overstuffed. I’d say the third option is definitely the best. The above six tips are so simple, I know, but who wants complicated anyways?
Last year this time I was thinking about this whole subject, women across America trying not to gain weight on Thanksgiving and lose it after. All I could think of was my favorite holiday movie character, Cousin Eddie saying “you serious Clark?!” Last time I checked there are 365 days every year. Yes, there are lots of meals, extra treats and festivities for the last forty some days, give or take, but it’s what we do consistently that adds up. It’s not Thanksgiving or a few Christmas gatherings packing inches on our waistlines. If we go crazy, will it contribute? Yes. But for the most part, it’s the Dunkn’ Donuts or McDonalds drive thru on our way to work, pop-tarts as we head out the door, candy on our desks at work, extra whip on our morning coffee and all the skipped veggies and missed workouts the rest of the year. It’s the everyday that doesn’t receive the attention the holidays do. So this year drink water, eat some greens and the pie, guilt free. Move a little while you watch Hallmark, find joy in meaningful places and soak up this holiday season, it’s totally worth it!
Blessings,
Rita
If you are already feeling the holiday pressure and anxiety read, Embrace the Imperfection. Maybe it will give you a fresh mindset, and yes, there’s another Christmas Vacation reference. That movie has obviously made quite the impression on me!
