Tips to Keep Your Waist to a Minimum Throughout the Holidays!

I can't let a major holiday pass us by without a mention of healthy eating and portion control, can I?! I know what you're thinking "I know this. I already know all of this!" Yes, that's all very well and true, BUT this year I want you to do more than just tell me you know all about it and actually participate in it!

Tips to Avoid that Unwanted Weight Gain from 11/26 to 01/01!
1. Have a game plan.
Have a plan and stick to it. One of the worst things to do is to starve yourself all morning to save up and overeat at meal time. Sure. Mom and Dad have prepared their famous once-a-year side dish and how can you say no? You can't! I agree. But, you can have a plan to NOT overeat. The best think you can do is eat regularly, per usual. For example, if Thanksgiving meal time is at 5pm, then plan accordingly. Have breakfast at 8am, lunch at 12pm, a SMALL healthy snack at 3pm, and then you're ready for dinner at 5pm withOUT that ravenous feeling.
2. Choose One Plate and Have Portion Control
Why is it that you need to eat two plates at meal time? You don't. I'm sure Mom and Dad have made plenty of food and there will be days worth of leftovers. REPEAT: DAYS of leftovers!!! That means you get to eat those once-a-year delicacies for the entire next week! Yay! I'm not even going to suggest avoiding those tasty high fat dishes. Give yourself permission to have them, BUT only give yourself permission to have one serving! (REPEAT: THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW!)
3. Choose One Dessert
I'm almost on repeat here. Read above. Skip the cookies and store bought pecan pie. Why not indulge in grandma's homemade strawberry rhubarb pie or Auntie Jane's sweet potato pie?! Now that is worth the extra calories! Skip items that you can have any ol' day. Skip items that are not your favorites. Don't eat something just because it's there. Remember, it's your waist line that will pay later! (...and your overall health. Don't forget that usually tends to put a dent in your wallet too! Was that second, third, fourth piece of [fill in the blank of your favorite food] really worth it?!)
4. Skip the Liquids
Research has shown that we don't account for the calories we consume in liquids whether it be juice, soda, or alcoholic drinks. Meaning, if we drink our calories, we don't reduce our caloric intake by eating fewer calories later on. What does this mean? Excessive calories per day, which then equates to weight gain. And quick weight gain! Bring in the alcohol and uh oh, you have a disaster waiting to happen. Holiday drinks are usually quite calorically dense. And as most of us know, when we start drinking, then we want to eat (more.) As everything else, either avoid this waist line danger OR limit yourself to ONE drink!
5. Exercise Exercise Exercise
Getting up and moving doesn't mean you have to go run a marathon! (But, please do if you feel so inspired! ;))Why not go for a 20 minute walk with Uncle Joe who you haven't seen in 6 months? Why not take your new niece for a walk in her stroller?! She likes fresh air too even if she can't walk yet. And ya know, Buster over there, well dogs like there exercise too! Make it fun! Make it a family event!

Here's to a happy holiday and a smaller waist line! Good luck! :)