Tis the season...to gain weight? Well, for some that's definitely the case. While the holidays may bring together friends and family in settings such as parties, dinners, events and more, they can leave us with some excess "baggage" we may not want to carry; especially around our hips, belly, butt and thighs. Is there a way to enjoy the festivities without gaining a single pound? Yes! But, before you reach for that glass of eggnog, make sure to read these tips and tricks in your Holiday Weight Gain Prevention Plan.
Let's begin with some things to try before you sit down at the table- it actually begins...in your closet. Here's a trick I stumbled upon in college and still use today. Remember the "freshman 15?" Due to late night partying, lots of unhealthy food, drinks and a first crack at near total independence, many new college students leave their first year of college carrying an extra 10-15 pounds. What I also recognized was that while I was wearing fitted clothes, especially jeans, everyone else was wearing...sweatpants. I also seemed to be one of the only freshmen who didn't gain any weight! Subconsciously, wearing fitted clothes provides a reminder to keep from overindulging. For example, would you overeat the same way if you were in a bathing suit? Probably not. So, make sure to wear something fitted that buttons or zips before you head out.
The next trick is called the "clutch trick" and this has to do with the type of bag or purse you bring with you to a party. Here's the idea. When you have a bag with a strap that you place on your shoulder or chair, you have two hands free to grab high calorie drinks and high fat appetizers. With a clutch bag, you've eliminated a free hand! Now you can have a drink (you can always have a seltzer which looks like a drink to avoid any hassles from drink pushers) or a plate of something healthy. Even if you do choose a few high fat, high calorie treats you've slowed yourself down by eliminating a hand to eat with. If you don't have a clutch bag, no worries, just tuck the strap into any small purse you have and hold it.
OK, two tricks in and we still haven't left for the party. Here's something else to consider before you leave. Many of us anticipate the special foods that will be available at an upcoming event and want to "save" our calories during the day and "spend" them on all of the foods that will surround us once we arrive. This plan has "diet mentality" written all over it. What do I mean? When we diet or severely restrict our calories, we may be able to tolerate it for a while but the more severe the restrictions, the more likely we are to bounce back...with a vengeance. Just as dieting leads to bingeing, deprivation leads to overindulging. In the case of saving our calories, we may get to the party, find ourselves ravenous, everything looks delicious and we wind up consuming much more than we bargained for. Basically, when we're over-hungry we overeat. Here's what you may want to try instead.
First, you may want to have a light snack, even a mini meal before you go. Why? Your judgment will stay in tact, you'll be better able to make sound choices and will prevent party overload. You see, physically you won't be as hungry so you won't be as tempted by all that surrounds you. Mentally, you know that you've just eaten something so you may think twice about going overboard. Also that healthy snack or mini meal of just 100-200 calories can spare you from taking in hundreds, even thousands of extra calories in excess because you preplanned and "spent wisely." Need some ideas? You can pair an apple with peanut butter, a container of yogurt or a fruit and a handful of almonds to name a few.
Next, you may want to consider how many drinks you'll allow yourself. Liquid calories go down easy but those liquid calories coming from alcohol also impair your judgment around some of the high fat/high calorie foods within arms reach. Here's where preplanning your drinking may be helpful to you. Will you limit your drinking to one or two drinks? Alternate between drinks and a non alcoholic beverage? Drink a wine spritzer to cut the amount of wine you're drinking in half? Choose whichever plan feels best and stick with it. If you need help limiting your alcohol, here's a visual that may work for you. Picture each drink as a chocolate milkshake! Some drinks contain about the same amount of calories so while we'd limit a milkshake to one (most of us) think about how many "milkshakes" you're drinking at each party you go to.
While there are many tricks and tips to avoid overindulging during the holidays, many strategies can be put in place before you even get to the event. By planning your strategies ahead of time, you're much more likely to avoid being derailed by all that holiday cheer! Enjoy!
