Yep – it’s that time of the year when we are bombarded with attending parties, dinners, happy hours, and get togethers with family and friends. Don’t get me wrong, I love it! But trying to get through all of them without gaining 20 pounds is much easier said than done! Did you know that one class of red or white wine (5 ounces) is 120 calories? Or that a cup of hot cocoa (8 ounces) is 176 calories? All those calories can quickly add up! Here are some easy ways to avoid gaining weight during the holiday soirees.
Abhor The Hors D’oeuvres
Okay, that’s a little harsh, but what I mean is that you should pay attention to those tiny bites! Pass up the pigs in a blanket and try to pig out on the crudites instead (just don’t dip all of those veggies in dip!). Shrimp cocktail is also a good choice.
Or if you are like me and have no very little willpower, grab a glass of sparkling water in one hand and keep a clutch in the other. Having something in each hand will make it much more difficult to shove those little bites of yumminess in your face! And on that note, why not eat a small salad with grilled chicken or some fruit before attending the party? That way, you’ll be less likely to indulge.
Be Mindful of Your Dinner Plate
I’m not saying to never over indulge, I just think it’s important to pay attention to what you are putting on your plate, or what you are being served. I know what happens to me is that I tend to talk and eat, without paying much attention to what I’m shoving in my mouth!
If you are at a buffet-meal, you can enjoy a bite or two of the pasta without eating an entire plate of it. Or if you grab pasta because you love the marinated olives, eat a few bites of the olives and leave the pasta. If you are eating what you know is a fattening serving, just don’t eat a ton of it.
If you’re eating a sit down meal that is served to you, pay attention to the portions. Ask for extra veggies and less carbs if possible. Eat the veggies before you dive into the mashed potatoes or slab of beef.
Did you know that you could save up to 70 calories by not eating that pie crust? See how easy that was?
Drink Too Much? You Can’t Avoid A Hangover, But You Can Make It (A Bit) More Bearable!
Obviously avoiding alcohol is definitely going to help you NOT gain weight! However, sometimes it happens, you don’t mean to do it, but you wake up the next morning realizing that you had one too many drinks the night before. The only thing you want to do is call a pajama/movie day and nap on the couch all day. As a mom of three young children, that’s not an option. But there are a few things that will make you feel better.
Juice: Juice helps replenish all those vitamins you loose from too much alcohol. Try orange juice. If your tummy protests, take a Vitamin C supplement. B6 has also been shown in studies to reduce hangover severity. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it’s worth a shot!
Alka Seltzer: Acid is one of the gifts that alcohol leaves in your body. Alka Seltzer’s bicarbonate helps neutralize the acid in your stomach and may help reduce that feeling of nausea.
Exercise: I know. You’re thinking I’m crazy by suggesting physical activity! But I’ve read in many magazines recently that physical activity helps get your blood flowing, which of course gets oxygen to those cells and releases mood-boosting neurotransmitters. You don’t have to run a marathon, but a brisk walk may be just what you need.
How do you survive the holidays without gaining weight and/or overindulging?
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