Happy, Healthy Holidays!

You may have worked hard throughout the year to manage your weight, eat healthy, and exercise…but then comes the Thanksgiving-to-New Year’s holiday season. 

The average person consumes about 4,000 calories on Thanksgiving, two times the daily calories the average person needs. You’ve barely recovered from the turkey and those trimmings; and now this month is one long, tempting food fest designed to make you gain weight.  There are treats and food at work, at school, at church…the parties…the family gatherings.  Winter is here, (well almost), with weather that pulls you inside and promotes snuggling, not swimming or hiking or tennis. And did I mention Holiday Stress and lack of sleep?
With all the Whirl Wind of the Holidays, how do you watch your Diet and practice a Fitness Regiment?
Know that emotions are a trigger to over eating.  We eat in response to feelings — and the holidays can be full of both positive and negative.  We eat to remember, we eat to forget.  Although understanding why you eat can offer some measure of control, experts say it’s also important to enter each event, each potential food fest, with a plan for how to handle the temptation. Need not be Scrooge, join in the merriment, but with logic, and leave the extra 15 pounds on Santa, not you.
Not the best time to start a diet, but it is critical that you make Healthy Choices.  Stay on track. 

Sample those special sweets…a bite, not a plate full. 

  
Party snacks are small but have a big punch.  Look for the crudities, fruit and cheese…grab a small handful of nuts.
Moderation…maybe a cranberry punch will tickle your HoHo instead of that rich egg nog. 
Absolutely Stylish, A Small Plate Holiday Party instead of a four course dinner….and you’ll still fit into that little Black Dress for New Year’s
And don some layers and head outdoors.  Fresh air and a brisk walk does wonders for the whole of you.
Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!