How to Survive the Holidays When You’re on a Diet
Last Updated on December 15, 2019 by Paula
The main challenge of any dieter who’s faced with a flurry of holiday parties is that the alcoholic beverages will be flowing and there will be fattening food everywhere you look. Should you just bag the weight loss plan and backslide into over-eating mode?
Aside from the general frustration and all that hard work going down the tubes, there’s another really good reason not to give up your diet in December. It’s just not worth having to run back out to the mall once the holidays are past, to return all of those clothes that won’t fit anymore due to the over-indulgence of the Christmas season.
Plus, more than just being able to button your pants, staying dedicated to a healthy eating and exercise plan really is worth the extra effort and self control that will be required of you. But don’t worry, you kicked the extra pounds, and you can stay strong. Here are some tips for not letting those Christmas cravings get the best of you.
Pick your potion – and make sure that your choice of libation is on the less sweet side. Whether you’re low-carb or not, certain alcoholic beverages have more carbs and calories than others. Your best choices are dry red wine, or vodka based mixed drinks made without sugar or sugary juice. Certain beers such as Michelob Ultra contain less carbs than others. And if you can, stick to just 2 or 3 drinks rather than getting blitzed. Drunk people are far more likely to succumb to the urge to gorge on cookies and other fattening foods.
Rethink “full.” If you struggle to keep the weight off, one concept that’s worth reconsidering is your idea of when to stop eating. We’re trained from an early age to clear our plate, and some families do have a habit of piling on the food. When faced with an array of amazing choices at the holiday buffet table, things can get out of hand.
Appetizers or dinner, not both. So appetizers are pretty much your favorite holiday indulgence, and for good reason. There are so many delicious ones to try, and you can have a nibble of everything. Instead of gorging on an array of appetizer choices and the moving on to Round 2 which is the main course, make the decision early on to do either or. If you pick dinner as your preferred indulgence, then limit your first course to salad and maybe a few bites on a small plate.
Get used to smaller meals. Depending on your size and stature, you may want to rethink the traditional dinner plate as an appropriate meal. Instead, retrain your brain by fitting an entire, balanced meal’s worth of food into a soup bowl. A taller or big-boned person might require two soup bowls. There is no exact right amount, but just know that if you tend to be on the heavier side, you are likely consuming more calories than your body needs.
