Whether you're trying to lose weight, or simply
maintain your current weight, the holiday season
can present a particular challenge. With all of
the tempting and fattening foods being passed
around at the dinner table, it can prove a
challenge to keep eating healthily during the
holiday season. These simple tips will help you
stick to your eating plan during the holiday
party season.
!! Steps !!
* _ Focus on the people, not the food. Remember
that holiday parties and social functions are meant to be times to
get together with friends and family. Get in the spirit of the
holiday season by celebrating your personal relationships, and
recognize that you're not just there for the food.
* Make the occasional party the exception to
your diet, not_ the rule. Splurging once in a while is not
generally a major problem. However, not returning to your diet the
next day is a mistake. Don't let one or two holiday events be the
excuse for falling off the wagon till New Year's!
* Consider volunteering to host the party
yourself. There's no better way to ensure that there will be
diet-friendly, healthy choices on the menu than by throwing the
party yourself. If someone else is hosting the party, offer to
bring food to the party so that you can be sure that there are
food options that fit into your diet program. At least there will
be one dish on the buffet that you can enjoy without worrying
about the calorie count!
* Prepare so you don't arrive at a holiday
party on an empty stomach. Have a light, healthy snack shortly
before leaving for the party. Choose protein-rich foods, such as
low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese, as the protein will stick with
you and help you feel full longer. Alternatively, eat a small
green salad as the fiber will also fill you up. If you cannot eat
something before arriving at the party, ask the host or hostess
for a large glass of water as soon as you arrive. By taking the
edge off your hunger, you can approach the buffet table with
control and be less likely to make impulsive choices at the party.
* Choose wisely from the foods available at
holiday functions. If you look carefully, you'll find there are
often acceptable healthy choices available to you. Concentrate on
the cocktail shrimp, smoked salmon, and fresh fruit or vegetable
platters. Go easy on the accompanying sauces and dips. Raw mixed
nuts, particularly almonds, are good sources of protein, but be
wary of candied nuts or extremely salty nut mixes.
* Eat slowly. It takes our body about 20
minutes to realize that we are full. Also, the more slowly you
eat, the less food you'll eat as opposed to eating fast in the
same amount of time.
* Drink responsibly. Consider sparkling mineral
water or non-alcoholic drinks, such as a "virgin Mary." If you
decide to drink alcohol, choose white or red wine, rather than
champagne or hard liquor. Intersperse all alcoholic drinks with
water, and you can even use sparkling water added to water down
alcohol.
* Stay active during the holidays. Mingle,
dance and do what you can to stay active (and as far away from the
buffet table as possible!). Keep your metabolism up by staying
active and including lots of healthy exercise during the holiday
season.
* Be careful of leftovers. Don't eat a lot of
calorie-laden food for days after a special event just because the
food needs to be eaten up. Portion all treat food in leftovers in
small amounts and ensure that everyone is sharing it, so that
you're not tempted to finish off the remaining half of a
cheesecake or crackling by yourself.
* Reward yourself. It's the holiday season, so
general deprivation is not the way to go. Simply shift rewards
from food to activities, like going to the cinema, going
ice-skating, visiting friends, or buying yourself a new CD. By
moving the focus off food and onto doing fun things, you'll
continue to enjoy the spirit of the season and stick with your
diet.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Try the 3-bite method. Take a small portion of the desired treat.
Before you jump in and swallow it without a thought, take a good
look at it and tell yourself, "I get three bites!" After the first
bite, think, "WOW, that was great and I'm not even through!" Then
take the second bite while telling yourself, "I'm only halfway
through. This is delicious!" Then get ready for the third bite and
think, "I'm really going to enjoy this. It's my last bite, but
this food isn't leaving the planet anytime soon, so I can have
three bites again next year!"
* If you want to try out a number of dishes, take small portions of
the food selections, instead of full-sized portions of everything.
This way, you can still get to enjoy the food without having to
consume too many calories.
* Consider wearing tight clothing to your holiday parties. Keeping
a belt or waistband cinched tight will help you feel fuller
faster, and remind you to not stuff yourself.
* Drink a glass of water before diner and above all relax; prepare
yourself mentally, see yourself eating slowly and savoring your
food, you can acquire this habit and keep it for the rest of your
life, not only during the holidays.
* Use "heat retentive" plates to keep your food warm as you eat
slowly. It helps to stop you wolfing down the food "before it gets
cold".
!! Warnings !!
* Eating slowly gives time to your brain to get the satiating signal
and drinking water will help you feel full (We need to trigger
those two sensors); however do not drink too much water before
dinner or you will dilute the acids in your stomach that you need
for digesting your food.
* If you resort to wearing tight clothing to discourage yourself, be
careful. You may end up harming your digestive system if you're
wearing a tight belt or underpants that are placing pressure on
your abdomen. It's better to eat sensibly than to curtail your
breathing and digestive processes.
* Eating too much hides complicated issues, such as poor self
control, inability to say no to other people, and a general lack
of respect for yourself. It might be a good time to buff up your
self-esteem and self-respect if you have been neglecting these
lately.
!! Things You\'ll Need !!
* Healthy snacks
* Activity distractions
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI)
* How to Lose Weight Safely
* How to Choose the Best Diet
* How to Live a Long Life
* How to Lose 5 Pounds in 5 Weeks
* How to Add Fruit to Your Diet
* How to Lose 12 Pounds in 12 Weeks
* How to Eat Slowly to Avoid Overeating
* How to Eat Healthy
* How to Eat out and Lose Weight
* How to Lose Weight by Eating Slowly
* How to Drink More Water Every Day
* How to Not Overeat on Thanksgiving
!! Sources And Citations !!
* http://www.eatslowlysite.com – research source
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
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