As we begin the home stretch for 2017, this is the time when a lot of people eat more than they should, drink more than they should and come January they begin their New Year's Resolutions to lose weight, get in better health...the usual annual resolutions. Here are some tips to use to plan for the holidays and a way to get a jump start on the upcoming resolutions and how to stick to them.
1. Eat everything - in moderation of course.
These are the holidays after all. We gather with friends and family. We all have a plethora of items to choose from. Turkey, ham, turducken, mac 'n' cheese, green been casserole, sweet potato souffle, corn on the cob, the list goes on and on. For most of us, we like everything that is being served. The trick here is not to get a full scoop of everything, especially if they are the large serving spoons. Instead, use your utensils and serve yourself portions that are large enough to enjoy the flavor, yet small enough that you will not over stuff yourself and feel like the turkey. One thing I have come to realize is that there is usually enough that you can go back for more later if you didn't get enough.
2. Plates - not platters.
Remember, this is a social gathering not a food eating contest. Use smaller plates and don't build mountains with your food. You can always go back for more. How do you know you have enough food? Well, I don't expect anyone to take a food scale and measure what your eating. The easiest way to measure is by using your hands. My tips to determine your proper portions are:
- Proteins: Make a fist. The back of your hand is the correct portion.
- Carbs: Put your hands together to make a bowl.
- Fats: The size of your thumb.
3. Play
If at all possible, get out and play with the kids. I know someone has to cook and make sure nothing gets burned and that everything is good to go once it's meal time. If you don't have kids, go for a walk. Other things you can do is go for a bike ride, go to the gym and try a Pilate's class. If you feel adventurous, try a spin class. You will try something new and burn up calories. Other things I have done in the past is do yard work - rake leaves, mow the grass, just be active.
When most people make their resolutions in January to get in shape and loose weight, a lot of people are all gung ho and hit it hard. In a matter of weeks they start to burn out when they don't start to see the results that they had hoped for. The excess weight and deconditioning didn't happen overnight. You are not going to correct it overnight either. Realizing this, take it slow and begin by building up your endurance. Do that for the next six weeks. Then you can begin to add resistance training and start building muscle, which will help with your metabolism. At our house, we usually have our big meal at lunch time. When I do get to workout in the morning, I am ready to eat everything in sight. I usually have one plate at meal time. A couple hours later I have desert. Several hours later I have another plate of whatever is left over.
I hope these suggestions help get you through the holiday season. Let me know if you have any questions I can help with.
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