The Holidays are here, and we all know what that can mean: lots of great food. However, you can keep your weight loss efforts on track and enjoy yourself. Take some time before Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner to decide which foods you want to enjoy at your meal. It is important to do this before you sit down to eat. I recommend imagining yourself sitting down to the Holiday dinner and visualize the spread and decide how you will fill your plate. Here are some more tips for getting through the Holiday meal.
- Eat Normally up until the big meal. Have a good breakfast (egg whites and veggie omelet) and a light protein packed lunch to keep your blood sugar stable and your appetite at bay. If you starve yourself all day you will be more likely (and tempted) to reach for the wrong things AND overeat them.
- It’s all about the white meat. Lean turkey breast is where you get the most bang for your buck, calorie-wise, since dark meat has 30 to 40 percent more fat and about 15 percent more calories. Also, most of the fat is close to the skin, so as golden crisp as it looks, get rid of it.
- Drink lots of water all day. If you are well-hydrated, you’ll be thinking clearly and be less likely to make bad food choices.
- Protein first then vegetable sides. Start with the lean turkey, then move on to healthy sides. By the time you are done with that, you will be too full to do any serious damage on dishes loaded with carbs or on desserts.
- Stick you your exercise plan. You will be bummed when you are feasting later if you take the day off. Can’t squeeze in a whole workout? Go for a walk, take the stairs, or start a game of football with the kiddos.
- Impress your relatives and contribute to the meal. Bring a guilt-free dish of your own so you know at least one side dish that’s safe to splurge on. Don’t feel like cooking? Throw together a fresh fruit salad.
- Just say no. Practice creative ways to say “no” in case you get pressured by others to go back for seconds.
- Stop when you are full. Push yourself away from the table when you have had enough. If you are not sitting within grabbing distance of the crescents then you will be less likely to have them!
- Wear form-fitting clothes during dinner. Wear something comfortable, just not elastic-waistband comfortable. Tighter fitting clothing will definitely keep you from indulging too much.
- Broaden your focus. Make the holiday about more than just food. Focus on your friends and family and remember what you are thankful for, like being healthier or fitting into a smaller size.
You might also be interested in: Keto Christmas Recipes: Have a very ketogenic Christmas