Holiday Guide
Trimming for the Holidays
By: B e v v Beirl
What are we thinking? Where
is it written that the last 37 days of the year we have
to gorge ourselves, overdrink, stress to the point of a
breakdown, or shop ‘til we drop? Where is it written
that we have to gain 4-7 holiday pounds? Nowhere!!! So
stop it. It’s as easy as that. Make the decision today
that your weight will be the same on New Year’s Day as
it is on Thanksgiving morning. Consider this: as we trim
our houses, offices and yards for the holidays—let’s
trim our calories and diet guilt too.
The BABM holiday strategy is to plan ahead. We can enjoy
our traditional holiday foods, in moderation, while
maintaining our health and weight. Now, more than any
other time of the year, we must spread our food/calorie
intake throughout the day and squeeze in an a few extra
exercise sessions.
Grab a piece of paper and a pencil. We are about to
begin our holiday plan of action.
First, make a list of your favorite holiday foods or
treats. There are Aunt Ruth’s homemade dinner rolls and
Aunt Mary’s pumpkin pie. And what would the holidays be
without Mom’s traditional Peanut Blossom cookies? My
guess is that most of our favorite holidays goodies are
very high in the dreaded “6 whites” (sugar, white flour,
white rice, potatoes, pasta and bananas).
Second, carefully look at the opportunities you will
have to get in a brisk walk, tennis match, bicycle ride
or workout at the gym. With a red pen, schedule those
workout times right now.
Hey, I told you to do it NOW! Stop reading. Schedule
your physical activities in red pen between November
25th and January 1st 2008, RIGHT NOW. This may well be
the very thing that gets you through the holidays with
minimal stress, zero weight gain, plenty of energy and
your sanity.
And now for the BABM Holiday Strategy:
1. Step on the scale
Thanksgiving morning and write your weight on the
bathroom mirror. Draw two lines under it for your
Christmas morning and New Year’s Day weights. Tell
yourself all three numbers WILL be the same.
2. Have a serving of
protein, (hard boiled egg, 2 deviled eggs, small piece
of baked or broiled chicken breast, or lean hamburger
patty) before going to a party or holiday dinner. Don’t
arrive hungry.
3. Forego the pretzels,
chips, dips and canapés. Spend your empty calories on
the special treat you really want.
4. Position yourself away
from the food table; in fact, keep your back to it.
5. Visit the buffet table
after you have had one glass of sparkling water with a
twist of lemon or lime.
6. Choose a small cocktail
plate and make a design on your plate with the most
colorful foods on the buffet table. (Colorful foods are
usually the high fiber, complex carbohydrates).
7. Before eating anything,
make a fist, glance at it, and remember that your
stomach is the size of your fist. Keep portions small.
Choose the high protein foods over the high sugar or
starch foods.
8. Wear form fitting attire
or a belt with the goal of feeling as comfortable
leaving the party or dinner as when you arrived.
9. Focus on socializing,
rather than on eating and drinking. Make it a point to
learn something new about everyone you visit with, or
plan to meet 3 or 4 new people.
10. Plan your alcohol
consumption (1 or 2 glasses of wine or mixed drinks) and
have sparkling water in between.
11. Plan ahead to follow
your evening party or dinner with a 30 – 40 minute brisk
walk the next morning.
12. Reinforce your
commitment by sharing your BABM Holiday strategy for
zero holiday weight gain!
If you balance your consumed
and expended calories the last 37 days of the year, you
can enjoy one of Aunt Ruth’s homemade rolls, one piece
of Aunt Mary’s pumpkin pie and a couple of Mom’s Peanut
Blossom cookies without guilt and weight gain. By
planning ahead, there will be no need for your annual
resolution of getting back in shape.
Happy Healthy Holidays |
