This is the season to overeat! This time of year is full of parties, dinners and get togethers that all have one thing in common, tons of sweet foods loaded with calories. So what can you do this holiday season to stem the growing desire to eat all the goodies in sight?
Do Not Get Too Hungry!
It is easy in this busy time of year to forget to eat and then go to a dinner starving. No matter what you do when you set down to a table full of delicacies in this state you are bound to overeat. Make the time for regular meals; do not skip lunch because you have a holiday dinner to go to later. In fact go the extra step to reinforce your diet by eating a low calorie healthy snack before you arrive. Eating before the party will make you feel fuller faster and thereby eliminating the tendency to over indulge.
Water
It cannot be said enough how important water is to your health and in particular your diet. Would you believe that many times when you fell hungry it is the body indicating a need for hydration?
Even though it is wintertime, your body still needs to be properly hydrated. Drink the recommended eight glasses of water a day and be sure at least one of them is before each meal.
Make a Plan
Before attending a holiday party, predetermine what you will eat. That does not mean you must know what is on every menu. It just means that you will decide on one dessert or limit yourself to one plate. This keeps your diet goals fresh in your mind and will strengthen your resolve.
Don't Stress
Everyone would agree that this is a stressful time of year especially in our current economy. Stress is bad at any time of year but especially so during the holidays. The chances to alleviate stress through overeating abound and in some ways are even expected. Do not fall into this trap, keep the holidays in perspective. This time of year is less about gifts and perfect entertaining and more about spending time with those we care about. When you look back on years passed what stick out to you the most? The dry turkey or laughing with friends and relatives over dinner? Relax the holidays come and go and the best thing you can do is focus on making happy memories.
Exercise
Finally, the holidays are not an excuse to forego your exercise routine. Keep it in the schedule and do not slack! With all the preparation for dinners and parties people often look for areas where they can cut back, do not let this be one of them.
Conclusion
This is the time of year for friends, family and fun, but it does not have to be the time when you gain more weight. Take the tips above and perhaps add a few of your own and enjoy your holidays without the guilt.
Your Motivation to Lose Weight
The weight loss market, as a niche market, is huge and growing ever bigger. You would assume that, with the amount of advice freely abounding, people would be able to follow instructions and lose their excess weight. In the majority of cases, however, this simply does not happen. But, why?
When Enough Is Enough And Too Much Is More Than Enough
Your weight loss plan is doing well but 'you must take more water with it' you frequently hear. Well, yes. You should drink adequate amounts of fluid because your body is made up of 98% water. Every cell in your body is bathed in fluid. By the time you start to feel thirsty your body is already starting to dehydrate - which is why it sent out that 'thirsty' signal to your brain.
Success At Dieting Is Treating Yourself With Kindness
You need to be realistic and learn to listen to your body. An exercise plan does not have to be so rigorous it would challenge an Olympic athlete; simply building up a bit more muscle would help to speed up your metabolism as muscle is more efficient at burning fat than body fat is. If you don't want to go to the gym, heft a couple of baked bean cans around - there are plenty of exercises online that show you a few calisthenics with weights. Take the dogs for a walk and get some fresh air - at best, it will get you away from the kitchen and the refrigerator door.
