The holidays are a tough time to stay on track if you are trying to lose weight. FACT!
Notice I said “tough time” and not impossible. The second you tell yourself that it is impossible, is the second you set yourself up for failure. It is hard, but just like anything else worth achieving, if you stay focused and on track with your red-nose the to grindstone, you can succeed.
Focus on the following:
1. Eat structured meals. Often times, our eating gets all jumbled up in the spirit of the chaotic holiday season. Don’t let that happen. Don’t skip meals, don’t let yourself graze all day, and you won’t set yourself up for a big, ravenous meal. This will also keep your blood sugar steady, and not lead to ravenous hunger later in the day.
2. Let Yourself Have Your Favorite “Treats” – sparingly! Don’t sit around thinking all day about your favorite treat that you CAN’T have. You will end up going crazy and eating it anyways (after you ate several other “healthy” treats to try to get the thought of that delicious fruit cake out of your mind). Practice mindful eating and portion control. Sure, it may not be the healthiest choice, but that also doesn’t mean you have to eat the whole pie. Be a responsible adult, and allow yourself one small sliver, and walk away.
3. Fill Your Smaller Plate – Strategically. Use a smaller plate, and fill it up with veggies and proteins first. Don’t go back for seconds – unless you wait 30 minutes, and feel and know that you are still hungry. This will force you to slow down, and allow your body to respond to the food you eat.
4. Don’t get off of you exercise routine. Hopefully you are working out an hour everyday already, and the holidays shouldn’t change that. Stay on your routine! Make those few extra calories that you may have consumed work for you. If you are looking for something quick to try, give my 12 Days of Fitmas Workout a Try! Complete it just like the song: 1 Burpee, then 2 pushups and one burpee, then 3 squats, 2 pushups and one burpee and so on. Your goal is to finish under 10 minutes! It may only be 10 minutes, but it might be more than you even thought of doing in the first place!
