Weight Loss: 3 Strategies To Handle Holiday Parties
By Carol Solomon
The holiday party season is upon us! Last week I went to my
first holiday party, not counting Thanksgiving of course. It got
me thinking about what strategies I use to manage my eating
during these “potentially” treacherous times.
There are 3 basic strategies.
First of all, you can “save up” calories by not eating all day,
knowing there will be lots of goodies. This strategy is similar
to the Weight Watchers™ point system, where you save points and
use them whenever you want. So you can starve yourself all day
and use them all in one sitting if you want.
I think this is a BIG mistake.
If I go to a holiday party starving, I am AT the appetizers
almost before I get in the door. Then it just keeps going all
night because there is more a feeling of needing to catch up. To
me, starving yourself all day is a form of deprivation, which
sets you up for binging at night. It is almost like a one-day
mini-diet.
The second strategy is just the opposite—do NOT starve yourself
all day long, but rather eat moderately so that you don’t go to
the party totally starved. This is the strategy I recommend most
of the time.
If you eat moderately during the day, you will not feel
deprived when you get to the party. You will be more able to
pick and choose. Even though there will be visual cues to eat,
you will be more able to eat mindfully, enjoy the food and focus
on TASTING the foods that you really want.
Then you can still have the things you want, and are less
likely to overeat.
And I don’t mean just having a taste of something, although
sometimes that is all that it takes to satisfy.
The secret is trying foods if you really want them, not
necessarily finishing them, but really getting a taste so that
you don’t feel deprived. I will often take a lot of different
foods just because they LOOK so good. But I only eat the ones
that really TASTE good and that I WANT at the time. I try not to
eat foods that I don’t really enjoy - just because it is there.
If you eat mindfully and stay conscious, then eating MORE of
the same thing doesn’t add any more to the experience – it only
adds bulk.
The problem with most holiday foods is that they are laden with
carbohydrates, which sets you up for continuing the cycle. So
make sure you get adequate protein to help control your appetite
and get back to eating normally the next day.
If you overeat, relax and learn.
Use this information to make your choices the next time you are
in that situation. Don’t yell at yourself or use it as an excuse
to binge. A few holiday parties can be handled quite nicely if
you stay calm.
Remember that there will always be more chances to eat
successfully and feel good about it. So don’t get too down on
yourself if you happen to overeat at 1 event.
Oh, I almost forgot – my third strategy? Skip the party! Some
holiday parties have simply outlived their usefulness. You go
every year and dread it. You have my permission (not that you
need it) to do something kind for yourself and skip it this
year.
Use the time to do something that is more relaxing or enjoyable
to you.
Here’s to happier holiday parties,
Carol
About the Author: Carol Solomon, Ph.D., specializes in helping
you lose weight and stop self-sabotage. “Lose Weight Now Stay
Slim Forever," is a practical "how-to" manual for learning to
lose weight without dieting. Free ezine, go to
http://www.Lose-Weight-Now-Stay-Slim-Forever.com To stop binge
eating, http://www.Stop-Binge-Eating.com 847-680-0272
tw@iconnect.net
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=17397&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
By Carol Solomon
The holiday party season is upon us! Last week I went to my
first holiday party, not counting Thanksgiving of course. It got
me thinking about what strategies I use to manage my eating
during these “potentially” treacherous times.
There are 3 basic strategies.
First of all, you can “save up” calories by not eating all day,
knowing there will be lots of goodies. This strategy is similar
to the Weight Watchers™ point system, where you save points and
use them whenever you want. So you can starve yourself all day
and use them all in one sitting if you want.
I think this is a BIG mistake.
If I go to a holiday party starving, I am AT the appetizers
almost before I get in the door. Then it just keeps going all
night because there is more a feeling of needing to catch up. To
me, starving yourself all day is a form of deprivation, which
sets you up for binging at night. It is almost like a one-day
mini-diet.
The second strategy is just the opposite—do NOT starve yourself
all day long, but rather eat moderately so that you don’t go to
the party totally starved. This is the strategy I recommend most
of the time.
If you eat moderately during the day, you will not feel
deprived when you get to the party. You will be more able to
pick and choose. Even though there will be visual cues to eat,
you will be more able to eat mindfully, enjoy the food and focus
on TASTING the foods that you really want.
Then you can still have the things you want, and are less
likely to overeat.
And I don’t mean just having a taste of something, although
sometimes that is all that it takes to satisfy.
The secret is trying foods if you really want them, not
necessarily finishing them, but really getting a taste so that
you don’t feel deprived. I will often take a lot of different
foods just because they LOOK so good. But I only eat the ones
that really TASTE good and that I WANT at the time. I try not to
eat foods that I don’t really enjoy - just because it is there.
If you eat mindfully and stay conscious, then eating MORE of
the same thing doesn’t add any more to the experience – it only
adds bulk.
The problem with most holiday foods is that they are laden with
carbohydrates, which sets you up for continuing the cycle. So
make sure you get adequate protein to help control your appetite
and get back to eating normally the next day.
If you overeat, relax and learn.
Use this information to make your choices the next time you are
in that situation. Don’t yell at yourself or use it as an excuse
to binge. A few holiday parties can be handled quite nicely if
you stay calm.
Remember that there will always be more chances to eat
successfully and feel good about it. So don’t get too down on
yourself if you happen to overeat at 1 event.
Oh, I almost forgot – my third strategy? Skip the party! Some
holiday parties have simply outlived their usefulness. You go
every year and dread it. You have my permission (not that you
need it) to do something kind for yourself and skip it this
year.
Use the time to do something that is more relaxing or enjoyable
to you.
Here’s to happier holiday parties,
Carol
About the Author: Carol Solomon, Ph.D., specializes in helping
you lose weight and stop self-sabotage. “Lose Weight Now Stay
Slim Forever," is a practical "how-to" manual for learning to
lose weight without dieting. Free ezine, go to
http://www.Lose-Weight-Now-Stay-Slim-Forever.com To stop binge
eating, http://www.Stop-Binge-Eating.com 847-680-0272
tw@iconnect.net
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=17397&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
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