gatherings are around the table. Food plays a dominant part our holiday
festivities. I have come up with a few strategies to help prevent the holiday
bulge. We can still celebrate our families, heritage, various traditions and still maintain our fitness goals. Below are some tips to help maintain focus and our waistline.
Here's what you need to know...
1. Generally, any meal over 750 calories results in a measurable amount of fat storage, regardless of macronutrient profile.
2. Mindless eating (eating while chatting or watching the Thanksgiving Football Games) will add literally hundreds to thousands of calories to your daily intake.
3. Alcohol combined with food will lower your resistance to monitor your caloric intake.
Strategies...
1. Workout before you visit with family for a large holiday meal. This will keep you focused on your fitness goals by keeping your workout fresh in your mind before you enter the feeding trough. By working out before you consume a large meal, you will also deplete muscle glycogen and blood glucose levels which create a deficit to allow the foods we eat to be utilized more effectively to replenish the glycogen and glucose levels,
2. Swat the M&Ms and potato chips to the ground (not literally you'll get a backhand from my mom and have to clean the mess up!!!) Instead chose appetizers like celery, carrots, broccoli and other veggies that contain fiber and are also more likely to be nutrient dense.
3. Say no to seconds and thirds! This is easier said then done I know. Grandma and mom have spent hours in the kitchen... It is their mission to show they love you by stuffing you with a 2,500 calorie meal and then desert. Remember, we are gathered to celebrate the season, family and friends... It's not an eating contest... Altho there was that time when my nephew Tom and I did go head to head, stomach to stomach to see who could out eat the other! ha ha.
4. Before the Tryptophan from the turkey kicks in and you fall asleep on the couch like a bear shot with a sedative dart, go for a walk or other physical activity. We used to go to La Salette Shrine and walk around to look at all the lights and decorations after Thanksgiving dinner. This will allow you to burn some of the calories off and aid in the digestive process.
5. Finally, wear an outfit that is fitted. Fitted... not immodest! Nobody wants to be staring at your "wedgey" or muffin top! Your clothing will feel uncomfortable as you have your fill. This will sound an alarm in your head to stop. Never... ever wear elastic waist clothing! It will expand as your tummy does!
Ok, now bring on the snow so I can wear my new scarf and mittens!!!! "Let it snow... Let it snow... Let it snow!"