Tis the season. The hustle and bustle has started and each day that passes we find ourselves closer to mayhem than the day before. I myself have been experiencing the craziness of running from the city to Woodbury, attending school functions and holiday events. It’s amazing how much we can fit into a month that seems to fly by in a blink of an eye. Yet everything we experience seems to feel a little easier, lighter and brighter. For example, last night my normal 2 hour commute took 4 1/2 hours to get home from my New York City location. There were no accidents. The tunnel was just gridlock and bumper to bumper in the daily rush hour traffic. But most commuters around me took it in stride. Holiday music blared from car windows and everyone seemed more relaxed in what would have been a usual night of frustration. For many, the month of December brings happiness and cheer along with many scheduled and unscheduled events. Traffic, holiday parties and unplanned eating. While the average person can gain 10 pounds over Thanksgiving, in the month of December you are packing on between 12-15. So here are some thoughts to get you through the unplanned and planned parties you have coming up.
Let’s start with the smartest decision of all…Don’t go hungry. I know you want to fit into that dress or suit, but if you go to the party hungry you are setting yourself up for disaster. Because we know all it takes is one glass of alcohol and you will feel ten pounds lighter and the food will be ten times more tempting. So on the day of any holiday party, have your breakfast, lunch and snacks. Even if you plan on drinking alcohol it’s best to have your snacks. You may not lose, but more importantly you will not gain. After all, if we can get through December and maintain, you should consider yourself a success.
Moving on…When you are faced with the holiday hors d’oeuvres table, the best thing you can do is be choosy. The phrase about one’s eyes being bigger than their stomach comes to mind. Don’t get seduced by the food! At the end of the day it’s just food. It will be there at the next holiday party you go to. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have it, but let’s taste instead of indulge. Visualize the difference between tasting everything and indulging in everything. Not a pretty sight for those who are indulging in everything. Most important, never eat to please others. If you know you have had enough then own up to it and be done with it. Focus on what’s really important – spending time, laughing and enjoying the people around you.
When it’s time for you to dive into the food table, here are a couple of helpful tips to remember portion sizes. You can enjoy all that the party has to offer, just start small. A fist is around one cup. Your thumb is the equivalent of about an ounce and your palm is around three ounces. Two thumbs are around a tablespoon and the tip of your finger is about a teaspoon. Choose carefully when serving yourself or eyeballing a portion. Remember alcohol can impair your vision so when eyeing sizes it might be best to eat before you drink. You can also help yourself out a little more by using a smaller plate when you have the option. A bigger plate my cause you to fill it up even though you only want or need part of what you dished out.
For most of us, celebrating and consuming tend to go hand in hand. There are a few things you can do to keep yourself from overeating mindlessly or unintentionally. First, take your time before eating when you arrive. Don’t go straight for the food. Instead, socialize before you get a plate. Also, once you have started eating or have had your fill, move away from the food. Don’t linger when it can be so easy to grab one more. And again, remember to watch what you drink. It can be easy to refill your glass and lose track when you’re eating and socializing. Start with water or soda before having that glass of wine or eggnog. Make sure to drink a full glass of water between each alcoholic drinks, it will not only keep you hydrated it will help your headache the next day. And of course make sure you have a designated driver.
Most of all, remember this time of year is about enjoying old and new acquaintances. It’s a fun and festive month and when it’s all over you want to find yourself with fond and fun memories, not the 10-15 lbs it’s left behind. Be mindful – make good choices. Everything matters. At the end of the day and year – it’s still only food. It’s will all be there in 2015.
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018
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