Chances are, you know the holiday struggle. You are already bloated and annoyed just thinking about the upcoming feast and asking yourself “how will I maintain my healthy lifestyle choices when there is so much food and pressure to eat it all!” Believe me, that is a struggle I know FAR too well. Here to offer the best advice I can, I have compiled a list of my top ten tips for getting through the holidays without sacrificing a notch on your belt or having to break out the sweatpants.
1. Eat small plates. The food isn’t going anywhere.
Your first instinct may be to get all of the food you want in one sweep then go sit and munch on it for the remainder of the event. The perfect way to deal with social anxiety/annoyance, right? When this happens, you eat faster and you eat MORE, leading to that over-bloated feeling of regret. Get small plates and give yourself time to digest a bit between trips. You may find that by giving yourself the opportunity to eat more later, you will be less hungry and more inclined to eat only what you really want. Pick a few of your favorite things, the things you’ve been looking forward to for the whole month, and really enjoy them. Take the time to appreciate that food. If you still want more, the food will be there afterwards. I promise.
2. It is OKAY to say NO!
If your family member takes the time to make something that brings them pride and joy, you may feel obligated to eat it, especially while they are watching. Let’s get this clear, YOU ARE NEVER OBLIGATED TO EAT SOMETHING. PERIOD. If you feel that inclined to boost their ego, take some to go. Tell them that you are too full and you will eat it as a snack at home. Later on, you can give it to someone else or factor it into your calorie limit on another day if you actually want to try it. I repeat, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO EAT IT. You are not being rude by refusing food. They are being rude for pressuring you to eat it. If you don’t want it, don’t eat it.
3. DRINK WATER (Like, a LOT)
Before you arrive to the event, before your meal, during festivities, while watching your aunt Carol drink a little too much wine or the kids ruin the table by trying to flip water bottles: DRINK WATER. Lots of water. The more water you drink, the less hungry you will be with both your stomach and your eyes. Also, avoid the empty calories of holiday drinks or limit yourself to one serving of your favorite. You’ll thank me later.
4. Remove the plate, remove the problem
When you are done eating and satisfied, remove your plate. If you are like me, your first temptation after you are done eating is to graze on what is still on your plate while you sit there talking to family. Remove the plate, remove any chances of you grazing on likely the least desirable foods at the event. If it is still on your plate, you’ve already determined that it isn’t worth the calories, so why let yourself keep eating it?
5. Do something engaging!
You won’t be as tempted to snack if your hands and mind are busy. Bring a board game, video game (the Nintendo Switch does wonders for me), play charades, just do SOMETHING to keep you busy. Not only will you not feel stuffed from snacking, but you will create great memories with your loved ones (I’m assuming this is the reason for the event in the first place, no?).
6. Avoid the diet talk.
Chances are, you are probably (and unfortunately) the only one who cares about your journey to lose weight. Do not talk to others about dieting/eating healthy during holidays. They will likely try to tempt and tease you more if you say “I cant have that” as opposed to “I’m full, maybe I’ll have some later.” It sucks that a large percent of us can’t be up front and supported by those in our lives, but we have to make sure we set ourselves up for success. If they tease you, don’t let it discourage you. They are doing it because they want your results without putting in the hard work. They want to bring you to their level. You are better than that. You are worth more than that.
7. Bring a healthy food/dessert.
More often than not, the number of healthy options at holiday functions are lacking. Create these options. Bring something you can eat, share with others, and enjoy instead of limiting yourself on the bad options offered. You can never use the excuse “I had to eat poorly because that was my only choice.” This is false. You have the ability to CREATE the choice. Have fun with it!
8. LOG IT. LOG IT ALL.
Just because it is a holiday doesn’t mean we get a free pass. Log what you eat. Even if it is over your daily calorie allotment, you are much less likely to continue eating the higher those numbers become. Better yet, log it before you even eat it to judge whether or not you really want that mediocre dollar store soda or that store bought cookie. Or that entire plate of store bought cookies. Just log it. Be informed of what you are putting in your body. If you don’t log it, it is far more likely that you will fail.
9. Drive the focus away from food.
If all they want to talk about is food, change the subject or change who you are talking to. Chances are, you haven’t seen these people in a while. Learn about what they have been up to! You are there for them, not for the food. You can even make a challenge out of it. Make an effort to talk to each person at least once and learn one new thing about them. If there are people you don’t know, introduce yourself! Be friendly!
10. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone.
Even if you slip up and overeat, still love yourself the next day. There is no possible way that you set yourself back a whole month of progress. In a few days, those calories will be out of your system (maybe even the water weight from all that sodium) if you don’t use this as an excuse to quit your plan. The next day is your opportunity to correct the issue, not to dwell on it and put yourself further back. Most of you have been on the weight-loss train longer than a day. Don’t let the cycle win. Tomorrow isn’t your tenth (or hundredth) “Day 1,” you are still on track and in control.
As with any of my tips, do what works for you! These methods are just what I have had personal success with and I hope they work for someone else!
Let’s survive these holidays together! I know you can do it!
If you have any more ideas, tips, and tricks for surviving the holiday season, please let us know in the comments! We would love to hear what works for you!
Peace, Love, and Happy Holidays,
LJ Harris
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