How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
Some of us aren't attending big Christmas parties this year but the holidays can still be filled with landmines ready to blow-up your diet. Here's how to survive the season:
1) Imbibe smarter. Eggnog holds more than 200 calories in a cup, so remember that a sparkling water or a flavored tea can be just as festive when it's served in a high-stemmed glass. And if you drink alcohol, make it a mixed drink such as vodka and club soda. It's low in calories (about 100) and going heavy on the club soda makes it even lighter. Avoid dark alcohol, as it contains more congeners, the chemical that worsens hangovers, and just say no to drinks made with fruit, as they'll sweeten your sweet tooth and leave you craving the cookies and pecan pie.
2) Don't skip meals. Even if you ate everything on the buffet table and went back for seconds, don't starve yourself to make up for it. Going hungry will only set you up for another eating binge. Instead, eat a high-fiber breakfast, drink plenty of water and get some exercise into your day. You can also try snacking on cucumbers, celery and melon to flush excess water from your cells and reduce bloating.
3) Give your host a head's up. Any holiday gatherings you attend this year are likely to be small groups of close friends or family. And if you can't trust your friends to support your commitment to eating healthy, who can you trust? Ask your host what's on the menu and if it doesn't fit into your plan, volunteer to add a healthier option to the table. Or help yourself to a double serving of salad to fill up and reach for the broccoli instead of the green bean casserole. And if your host insists you try her famous four-cheese lasagna? Beg off by saying you're stuffed.
4) Dump the overload. Most of us have been especially stressed-out this year and trying to create a festive holiday can drive us over the edge. Crawl back to sanity with some good organization and reclaim the time needed to cook a healthy meal. Whether you're working at an office or from a desk in your home, get there early and work from a to-do list. You can delegate time-sucking projects or consider eliminating them, as too much really is too much and multi-tasking actually reduces productivity. Studies at the University of Michigan showed that switching between two tasks dropped the productivity of test subjects by more than 50 percent. Even those pop-up reminders on our computers have been shown to disrupt our work, so turn them off and develop a habit of checking your in-box on a regular schedule.