Nutrition Know How

Thanksgiving and Halloween are over.  I survived with out any weight gain and actually lost weight.  This is not the norm. The average weight gain between Halloween and New Years is about a pound or more.  That doesn’t sound like much–but over the years–this really adds up!  Most people try to maintain their weight during this plentiful food time.  Parties, cookies, treats, abnormal hours and schedules.  These all work against us when we are trying to eat healthy.  What’s a foodie to do?

My biggest problem is baking.  I bake for weeks for the holidays.  It all looks good–whether it’s baked or not.  I am trying different things to avoid “sampling” this and that.  Every little sample can add a new size to my jeans if I don’t watch it!  I have found that the following suggestions work, and may help you maintain, or even lose weight over this holiday season!

• Get lots of exercise.  Shopping is walking.  Walking is exercise.  Go for a walk after a big meal.  Exercise before going to a party.  Play outside with the kids.  Dancing to lively music while cleaning your house is exercise.  Just move.  Try to increase the amount you move in a day if you are going to a party in the evening.
• Fill up on fiber.  Foods with a high fiber content are filling, and usually lower in calories and fat.  Try noshing on fat free popcorn, or carrot and celery sticks and oranges.  I try to keep fruit and Fiber Plus bars with me.  They are low in calories, high in fiber, and fill me up.
• Drink water.  Lots of it.  Tea, coffee, diet pop, all add to your fluid intake; just don’t add a lot of sugar and cream.  Being hydrated makes you feel better–and fills you up.
• Moderation.  No one ever died from eating just one meal.  Try small portions of foods you like.  Avoid “everyday” foods.  Dinner rolls taste the same on Thanksgiving as they do on Tuesday.  Pass on the dinner rolls and have a serving of Aunt Emmas really gooey sweet potatoes.  They won’t be around on Tuesday.
• Weigh yourself regularly.  I’m not saying be  a slave to the scale.  Maybe once or twice a week.  Unfortunately, ignorance is not bliss if you are steadily gaining and you don’t come to grips with it.  The weight is not magically going to go away if you don’t weigh yourself.  Tight jeans are usually a good indicator something has happened!
• Don’t beat yourself up if you went overboard.  It’s just one meal or one party.  Get back on the healthy eating train at the next meal.  If you can eat healthy 90% of the time, you are doing really well. 
• Enjoy yourself.  If you are going to eat something decadent that makes you feel naughty–eat it slowly and savor it.  Snarfing it down will not make it as enjoyable as it could be.

Finally–take care of yourself.  Have you made any changes since my last entry?  I have to remind myself everyday that 5 minutes is good for me.  Maybe next week I’ll try ten!  By the way–for those that are keeping count, I have lost 24 3/4 pounds so far.  If it were easy, we’d all be a model.  Health is totally worth it!  Keep up the good work yourself!  Happy Holidays.