Six Slimming Strategies for the Holiday Season

Can you believe it's mid December and that 2015 is a little more than 2 weeks away!?

With the New Year comes the desire for a new, healthier you, which is great but quite the challenge with all the holiday food goodness going on.

I shared my mentally for Thanksgiving on social media - I don't believe in stressing out over weight gain on Turkey Day, It's just 1 day... okay 2 days. Workout the day before, day after and Enjoy Yourself.

Well that isn't my take on Christmas as the candy canes, panettone (holiday bread), stollen (holiday bread), rum cake, turrón (Spanish almond nougat) and coquito/eggnog seem to start following while you're eating Turkey Day leftovers.

But don't fret, you can enjoy this time with it's festive foods without the guilt or stress. Let's review the plan.

#1: Ruin your appetite.
Holiday parties abound this month, so always eat a full, healthy meal before the festivities. Most people think I won't eat and save my calories and then grossly overeat and regret it. By having a full stomach, you're more apt think twice about what you eat and eat less.

#2: Bring your own healthy stash.
Even you weren't asked to bring a dish, bring a healthy one anyway. The hostess will love you for it and you'll know there's at least one healthy option to enjoy.

Roasted veggies, couscous or quinoa pilaf, a fresh fruit platter are easy, tasty and healthy dishes that would be a welcome addition to any holiday spread.

#3: Limit liquid calories.
Now I don't expect you not have a cocktail or coquito/eggnog, let's be real. But remember those fluid calories quickly add up. Two of my favourite strategies are to alternate cocktails with a non-alcoholic drink like seltzer or mineral water with lime or have my drink for the evening be wine spritzers. Wine spritzers are made with club soda/seltzer, so again more water less alcohol and calories.

#4: Fill your plate, twice and pile on the veg
Instead of eating off a dinner plate, use a salad or medium size plate, serve yourself twice and have half of your plate be veggies. While the plate does hold less food, the fact that you eat from it twice will fool your mind and your belly into thinking that you've eaten a lot... especially since you eat before you came to the party right?

#5: Make yourself a sampler.
Ah, holiday desserts. Who can resist!?! Go ahead give in and have 3-4 desserts by making a sampler plate, on a dessert plate this time. It's not rude to take half a cookie, a sliver of cake/pie, a taste of the trifle, as long as you're clean and neat about you. Don't use the same knife to cut different desserts, basically leave the desserts looking as appetizing as they did before you took your portion.

#6 Exercise
I know you have a lot to do, there's a lot going on, but make time to exercise. Get up early, exercise during lunch, go straight to the gym right after work, do not pass home. A la Nike, Just Do it!

I really hope these tips help you enjoy all the yummy goodness of the holidays.


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