Fitness blog---Watch out for holiday/cold weather eating

[Marissa Lily]

In November's issue of Self magazine, it states that a Texas A&M study showed the in teh time between Thanksgiving and New Year's day Americans eat 619 extra calories per day. Let me break this down for you, in 5 weeks you would gain 6.5 pounds!!!!!!
So the plan of attack is:
1. Be proactive
Just because you are busy doesn't give you an excuse not to exercise. Move! I don't care if it is going on a walk through the mall. 30 minutes on most days. This also raises your endorphins and will keep you from getting sick through the winter.
2. Don't drink your calories
Holidays tend to involve lots of parties and Happy Hours. When you can, don't drink your calories. Choose tonic water with lime, diet soda, unsweetened iced tea or lower calorie alcoholic beverages like a wine spritzer, tonic water and gin or vodka or even diet soda and cherry vodka (my fave). Also try to drink one alcoholic drink followed by one glass of water.
3. Eat something before the party
This is something I don't always do but i should. If you wait for the party to feed yourself, you will over indulge, guaranteed. eat something with fiber beforehand, even an apple. You don't have to eat your whole meal, just eat something to put bulk in your stomach. another good option is to eat some soup beforehand. You will eat less later. And drink water before you go!
4. Be Cognizant
Realize that you will eat more than normal during this time, try to remind yourself of that fact and you will be more aware and therefore more likely to watch what you eat. do you really need that artichoke dip? Choose to eat only what you love, never feel obligated to try something just because so and so made it. Don't eat when you are bored. Talk to someone. Remember that alcohol is a double edged sword, it makes you eat more and it raises your insulin levels causing everything you eat to be stored as fat.

[Miss Nancy Sin]

Wow, this is very helpful. It's nice to snuggle and cuddle during the cold weather, but not nice when you invite the junk food to join you, yikes!

[Marissa Lily]

An english muffin is not so bad for you and cinnamon is good, now if it is drowning in butter that is a different story...

[Cassie Wanda]

Wow. Lots there I didn't know.
....As I eat an english muffin drowning in cinnamon. haha.

[Marissa Lily]

Most of the time we eat when we aren't even hungry. We are just bored, so instead have some water, tea, sugar free hot chocolate or get up and do something. You will often find you aren't actually hungry.

[Mimi First]

When it gets cold and dark out I get all depressed and stay inside more and then I eat more cause I'm bored! OH no I'm a statistic. Plus it doesn't help that all the winter holidays are food eating centric -doh- Guess it's time to start being cognizant. :)

[Marissa Lily]

thank you!

[Miss Malice]

This is a great blog! I printed it and put it on my refrigerator!!
Gotta get me into pin-up mode mama!!!