How about we just forget about working out this December? Let’s just take the month off and eat, drink and be merry. Shall we say “no” to dieting, eating healthy, and just begin again in January? You can save a lot of time by not having to go to the gym and you can enjoy a plethora of tasty homemade delicacies that grace our kitchens, offices, dining rooms and schools. You can have a second or even a third helping of that pumpkin pie and whipped cream, lick the bowl while baking cookies, and use real sour cream on your potatoes. Dig through the “fat” clothes and pull all the elastic waists to the front of the closet so clothes won’t be uncomfortable when you are ordering extra dessert while eating out regularly.
What do you think? Are you ready? Are you in? Shall we do it and compare notes in January?
Wait a minute. I’m getting cold feet. The more I think about it, I don’t think I can commit to it. I admit I’ve done it before, and I didn’t like that lifestyle. I was sluggish, grumpy and uncomfortable.
In addition to that, the thought of weighing 8-12 pounds heavier in January than I do now is not very appealing to me.
Okay. Let’s try plan B. How can we enjoy the holiday season, continue to workout, eat healthy and at least maintain our weight? I pulled out many of my tips from past articles and I am adding some new ones so we can have success this season. We can have lots of energy for shopping, visiting, singing carols and even charge into the New Year with a bang.
What About the Parties?
Plan your parties. Be strict for several days prior to your celebration and even increase your workout time or duration. Allow yourself to enjoy the meal, but use some of these tips to prevent going overboard:
Sit at the table with good posture and hold in your stomach when eating.
Chew your food slowly. Put your fork down after each bite.
Drink lots of water
Choose your “cheat” days carefully. No more than one per week.
Eat breakfast within one hour of waking. You'll be less tempted to eat sugar when you've started the day with good nutrition.
Keep in mind that calories add up. Indulge in your favorite food, but remember not to lose track of the calories you are taking in.
Here are some popular holiday food and drinks:
Eggnog, 1 cup serving, 342 calories 18 grams of fat
Cranberry sauce, 1 slice, 1/2-inch thick, 86 calories 0 fat
Stuffing, 1/2 cup, 178 calories 8.6 fat
Dark meat turkey, no skin, 3.5 oz., 187 calories 7.2 fat
Gravy, 1/4 cup, 30 calories 2 fat
Homemade pumpkin pie, 1/8 of a 9-inch pie, 316 calories 14 fat
Homemade pecan pie, 1/8 of 9-inch pie, 502 calories 27 fat
Brussels sprouts, plain with salt, 1/2 cup serving, 31 calories 0 fat
Carrots, plain with salt, 1/2 cup serving, 26 calories 0 fat
How Do I Fit in Fitness?
Add exercise to your "to do" list and give it the same importance as your other errands.
Do a brief strength training session, or a brief cardio session each day over the holidays to keep your metabolism fired up.
Use your lunch break to walk to a nearby shopping center to do holiday errands. Try to do anything that gets you moving. All activities add up -- lugging a toddler around house, taking stairs instead of escalator when shopping, or going window-shopping.
Do your fitness early in the morning so you won't be tempted to miss them due to shopping, family, parties, etc.
Keep an exercise journal. This can help you stay motivated by making daily exercise goals for yourself and keeping track of what you have accomplished. This also might deter you from overeating.
Be flexible when your days get busy. Instead of simply blowing off your 5 p.m. trip to the gym in favor of an office party at the same time, wake up an hour early and walk or jog before work. Or fit a brisk walk into your lunch hour.
Try creating a home workout routine now for those times you can't make it to the gym. Crunches, push-ups, and many other exercises can be done without any gym equipment.
How Do I Get Everything Done?
Increase your time management skills over the holiday season by organizing your day the evening before. Prioritizing your tasks beforehand will help you find time to exercise. Each week, make it a priority to fit in at least three exercise sessions. You can also menu plan so you prepare what you will eat, including the number of calories you will consume.
I feel much better now. I had a momentary lapse, thinking I could take the month off of taking care of my health, but I realize that is not wise. These are great tips and I am actually going to use them myself! We can compare notes again in January to see how everyone did. Let’s make a commitment to at least maintain our current weight without stressing about losing weight. For those of you super-charged, ready-to-conquer-the-world-individuals who are determined to lose weight – I applaud you. Congratulations. I wish you an enjoyable, stress free, healthy holiday season. Merry Christmas!