
It’s about this time of year when we start to notice food all around us. The Christmas treats are out the day after Halloween at the stores and it won’t be long before we will be treated by clients at the office, the neighbor brings over holiday cookies and of course that Thanksgiving meal. You have been crushing your nutrition plan and been making all of your sessions with your trainer. But with all the temptation, how do you get through it without having to start over in January? Here are a few ideas for you to keep in mind this holiday season.
- Consider having a healthy snack before you arrive. Something with fiber and protein will help you control your hunger levels.
- Offer to bring a dish – We all love our families, but let’s face it, we can’t always count on them to cut the calories when they are cooking. If you bring a dish, you know you have control over the ingredients and be able to avoid extra fats and sugars.
- Do your workout in the morning! Starting your day by burning calories will motivate you to drink more water and make healthier choices throughout the day. Include some strength training so you continue to burn calories long after your workout.
- Watch the liquid calories – Just because they are liquid, doesn’t mean that don’t count. Choose low calorie options and set a limit before you even leave the house.
- Portion control – This is one of the biggest tips to get you through any meal, any time of day. Half of your plate should be veggies, divide the other half with your starches and protein.
- Enjoy every bite – Eat slowly, chew your food and while you are eating, pay attention to the textures, the taste, the smell, and the feelings it brings up for you.
- Listen to your body – it will tell you when you are full. Resist the urge to have to clean your plate, try every dish or eat the whole slice of pie.
- Hydrate – the answer to everything. Thirst often presents itself as hunger at first. So drink your water. A good rule of thumb is to drink at least half of your body weight in ounces. If you weigh 120 pounds, get in 60 ounces of water during the day.
- Give Grace – If you want the pie, eat some of the pie! You are more likely to over indulge later if you hold off that craving for too long. If you eat it when it sounds good, you can often satisfy that craving with just a few bites.
At the end of the day it comes down to enjoying those around you. Thanksgiving is ONE day. If you don’t quite eat “perfect”, no worries. There is always tomorrow and you can keep on track with your workouts and diet plan.