DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGY?
The holidays are here and part of the fun of the season is the gatherings and spending more time with family and friends. Almost all of these occasions involve food, and it's a fair guess that they also include treats, sweetened beverages, and alcohol. While everyone has to make up his or her own mind about how to handle these occasions, I don't think it's a good idea to throw caution to the wind, eat anything and everything, and start over again in January for several reasons. One of them is that you were engaging in this type of behavior for a long time before deciding to change your diet and lifestyle to a healthier version, and it contributed to weight gain and health issues. One very important principle of the program I teach is that it is a plan for life. It is not a short-term heroic and restrictive diet that cannot be sustained. On the other hand, binging on junk food for short periods of time is not a good idea either.
Another reason to avoid a holiday eating orgy is that it will inevitably be accompanied by weight gain and feeling bad. It does not help to go backwards if you have been making progress toward your weight and/or health improvement goals.
The better strategy is to continue the "changing your life" program and learn to how to be a healthy eater who can enjoy the holidays. If you have been to any of my classes or events, remember the key strategies to implement any diet and lifestyle changes. It needs to be accessible, sustainable, and defensible with science.
If you are attending a party, eat a large salad, or a healthy soup with lots of veggies before you go. It's important to not attend these events when you are "starving". Fill up on salad and vegetables at family dinners and enjoy a few Christmas cookies!
Remain mindful of your strategy and intentions. This way you can have fun, indulge yourself a little, and wake up on January 1 feeling good about yourself, your weight, and your health.
Lastly, don't forget about exercise! Continuing your workouts is part of learning how to enjoy holiday seasons as a healthy person. Exercise can offset the effects of those cookies!
Stay tuned for 2024 as I resume classes and events, with hopefully more zoom meetings for the out-of-town folks.
I wish all of you a happy and healthy 2024!
Looking for a healthy side dish to bring to dinner? Check out this Cranberry Kale Pilaf. If you don't like Kale, sub spinach. Cranberry Kale Pilaf - Center for Nutrition Studies
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