It’s time for Friday Five linkup with DC area bloggers Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed Up for What?!, and Mar at Mar on the Run! Be sure to stop by their blogs and say hello!
Every year about now, I spend a lot of time with my weight loss clients going over a game plan for how they will handle their eating during the holidays. There’s nothing more frustrating for those clients (and me), than for them to take three steps backward during the holidays. I adjust their goals and ask them to try to maintain their weight from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. If they lose weight, great, but if they don’t, then they don’t feel like they have failed.
Today I’m sharing five of my tips for staying on track:
1. Try to continue working out at the same frequency and level that you do the rest of the year. Sign your family up for a turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning, or go for a walk after you eat on Thanksgiving/Christmas afternoon. Keep moving, but make sure you’re having fun. Every minute you’re outside, you’re not inside nibbling on pie and ice cream.
2. If you’re ask to bring something to a friend or relative’s house for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, ask them what’s on the menu. Then offer to bring a lite appetizer or side dish that compliments the meal. Cooking Lite has some great recipes to check out!
3. Make good choices and pace yourself on the alcohol consumption at parties. Keep in mind that there are far fewer calories in wine than most cocktails. Also, try to drink a glass/bottle of water between each alcoholic beverage.
4. Try to avoid having your holiday weaknesses in the house. For me, it’s Southern Comfort eggnog… I used to scoop it up when I’d first see it in the stores in early November, but it would never last until I really planned to serve it closer to Christmas. These days, I buy it as I need it for entertaining.
5. Enjoy yourself, and for goodness sake, don’t spend six weeks completely denying yourself of everything yummy and delicious. Do the best that you can, have fun, try your hardest to be healthy, don’t beat yourself up for little slips, and most importantly, get back on track as soon as the holidays are over!
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GOOD LUCK!
- Questions:
- What are your tricks for staying on track during the holidays?
- Do you usually maintain your weight from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day?
- Who’s racing this weekend?
Usually on Thanksgiving I can’t find more than a turke trot so I opt to do my own run before I splurge on all my holidays treats. Have to compensate some way.
Good for you! I run a 5K every Thanksgiving morning and since I like to run farther than 3.1 miles, I always go out for a longer run by myself before the race starts. It’s become a fun tradition!
I don’t drink, but read a tip to alternate between whatever one’s drink of choice is and sparkling water. Another tip in the same piece was to make sure if you’re at a cocktail/mixer event with food, you always have a glass of sparkling water or low/non-caloric beverage in the other hand, makes it harder to balance a plate and eat food!
I love holiday themed races….
Yes, alternating water between drinks is something I practice, and recommend my clients do (tip #3). I’m not a fan of sparkling water, so I go for the plain. I love the “harder to balance a plate” tip!
Alternating wine and water is a great idea. I usually do it at work functions but it’s a good reminder for parties too.
Additionally, alternating water with wine also helps keep you hydrated and makes you less likely to have a hangover the next day! 🙂
We also sign up for the Thanksgiving morning turkey trot and enjoy the race before the food coma.
Thanksgiving morning turkey trots are becoming very popular! It’s become a huge family tradition for us.
I also run a Thanksgiving 5K in the morning. In terms of savory dishes I am pretty good during Thanksgiving evening, but I will indulge in the sweets 🙂
I have a huge weakness for sweets, too…
I am all about number four. I stopped buying treat type things for at home. There are plenty at work, friends and family gatherings, etc. No need to be tempted at home too!
You raise a very good point – keep the temptations at home limited!
Continuing at the same intensity and frequency is key for sure. Lots of things can compete for your attention during the holidays
It’s just so easy during the holidays to get distracted, and suddenly the day is over, and the workout never happened. That’s one of the things I love about running super early in the morning with my MRTT friends!
Staying just as active during this time of the year is certainly a priority for me, Deb; thanks so much for a great post! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks, Tara!
Great list. Mine is the christmas cookies, which will be rough because I know my daughter will really want to make a lot this year. She had a blast helping last year. Just need to make sure I take platefuls into work afterwards, haha.
I enjoy making Christmas cookies, but unless I give most of them away, I’m the number one eater! I’ve cut way back in recent years with the amount of holiday baking I do. BTW, there’s nothing more fun than baking with a little one! I loved doing that when my sons were little!
Number five all the way! I just refuse to get all worked up over the holidays…instead I enjoy in small amounts and keep up all my normal habits right along with it. Now–can we push them off just a bit longer? How is it so close?!
It’s beyond mind-boggling that Thanksgiving is barely over weeks away!
OMG. Southern Comfort eggnog is SO GOOD. My trick is to fill my cup with half eggnog and half 1% milk. It still tastes just as good and saves a few calories…maybe a few anyway. I guess it depends on HOW MANY cups you drink. HA. Great tips.
Cutting Southern Comfort with 1% milk is a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
your tips are all great — maintaining rather than losing is an excellent do-able goal for the holiday season. i love your image, btw 🙂 have a great weekend!
Thanks – I love our Thanksgiving china!
I love ALL of these tips! They’re very realistic and not restrictive 🙂 a great recipe staying on track. I try and stay on track by definitely attempting to stick to my normal routine.
Thanks! I do great with sticking with my routine during the holidays until I visit my mom. She makes ALL of my favorites! I always go out for early morning runs when I visit her! 🙂
Yea, I definitely can’t deprive myself, otherwise I will eat ALL the desserts 🙂 I try to prepare light/clean dishes as best I can.
I agree. Also, I used to make tons of cookies for the holidays, but these days I try to only make them if I’m taking them somewhere; otherwise, I’m the one eating them!
I have to keep sweets out of my house!! Ugh! If I buy they get eaten lol no self control I admit it!! So by treating myself when we are out at a party I get my treat without over treating 😉 great tips!
Thanks, and I agree about keeping the tempters out of the house! Not a ton of self control here either.
i like this! don’t keep holiday weaknesses in the house. Great idea.
I like to have a few things around that my family likes, especially the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, but I try to buy more of the sweets they like and I don’t. 🙂
Great list! I use quite a few of these myself! I will definitely be signing up for a turkey trot this year, maybe even some trail runs 😉
I love the popularity of turkey trots these days! 🙂
I don’t typically gain weight over the holidays, but this year I’m really focusing on eating right and exercising since I’m trying to lose the baby weight. It’s easy to fall into bad habits this time of year so making a plan and sticking to it is the way to stay on track.
Never tried SoCo Eggnog before. Might have to try it.
Have a great weekend Deb!!!
IF you’re going to have a little eggnog, SoCo is the way to go! HoHo commented above that she cuts her’s with 1% milk – same flavor, just not as rich and calorie laden! I’m going to try it, if I buy eggnog this year.
I live in Europe and we don’t have “Thanksgiving” so I don’t have to worry about that 🙂 But there’s a bunch of birthdays around the holidays haha. My brother’s bday is Nov 28th, mine is Dec 1s, then it’s Christmas, then my mom’s bday Dec 29th. I don’t really gain weight during Christmas, normally I just lose weight around the holidays for some odd reason.. I’m not big on Christmas cakes and all that stuff, thank God! And I don’t eat meat so that probably makes a difference too haha 🙂 I love chocolate though, so hopefully no one will give me any chocolate for Christmas haha.
Hope you’re having a great weekend! 🙂
You do have a lot of birthdays to celebrate just before the Christmas holidays! Here’s to a chocolate-free Christmas for you. 🙂 My birthday is in mid-November and I feel like that’s the start of my holiday eating opportunities.
I love you realistic tips, Deb! And the alcohol is a great reminder!
I generally maintain my weight during the holidays; I think because I love the extra time for longer workouts!
Thanks, Abby! You’re probably in the minority when you say you use your extra free time during the holidays to work out. I wish more people thought that way!
The holidays are definitely tough, because your schedule is packed full and often different than your normal routine. Plus all the food! I try to plan when I’ll workout and what I’ll do in advance to make sure I can fit a run or workout in as usual. As far as the food – I don’t deny myself the enjoyment of the holidays. But I do try and keep everything in moderation and just not go overboard. It’s not easy, especially at my grandma’s house! One other great tick I’ve learned is to eat a small snack, like an apple, before going to a party. It keeps me from being tempted to indulge in foods I otherwise wouldn’t even be interested in.
Eating a small snack before heading to a party is a good idea!
My problem is all of the holiday snacks and cookies that my mom sends home by us after Christmas!
Great tips – thanks for linking up! So glad to remember that wine is a decent alcohol choice. 😉
Wine is the better alcohol choice, but I have a thing for cocktails, so I have to be choosy. 🙂