Karie’s Top 10 Holiday Survival Tips for your waistline!
Karie’s Top 10 Holiday Survival Tips for your waistline!
I was out eating the other night at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants while catching up with a very close friend of mine. He mentioned that I must be really hungry as I was still eating the tortilla chips AFTER I had finished my meal. I just stared at him…wondering what he meant. I looked down at my plate, I had finished almost everything on it, which is VERY rare for me AND I was still eating from the basket of chips. I didn’t realize during my story telling and catching up that I was eating while rambling.
This is half the reason we gain weight while social eating, similar to social drinking…but with FOOD. We eat mindlessly instead of consciously. This is something I have to be very careful of. My eating out habits aren’t always about food. Relationships are my #1 priority in life and socially eating out is a large part of keeping those friends near and dear to my heart… so I need to be careful not to 1) overspend and 2) Over EAT!
While replaying those events in my head I decided to create my “Top 10 Holiday Survival Tips” since we will be socializing a lot in the next 2 weeks. These tips are meant to be used all throughout the year as you slim down and maintain that beautiful body of yours!
Tip 1) Bring a Healthy Dish
When participating in a potluck or social gathering that has required you to bring a dish to pass. Bring something healthy. This will ensure you that something good for you will be there.
I will never forget the ridicule that I got for signing up for bringing a vegetable tray to a work potluck. I was hoping by putting it on the sign up sheet that it would create a healthier pattern for others as well. It worked and I had something that I knew was healthy for me to eat.
Tip 2) Stay Far away from the Munchies
You know what I’m referring to… the nuts, the cheese and crackers, pretzels and the candy… everything is so perfectly displayed at a Christmas social gathering. While you’re socializing, you’re snacking and this is before the dinner is even served. Try to stay arms length away from those goodies. Remember- This was my restaurant episode… chatting and mindless snacking. Research proves that multitasking while eating causes us to consume extra calories, example- eating while watching Television, on the computer, reading a book…etc. Not good!
Tip 3) Do not RUSH THROUGH eating your meal
Take the time to enjoy your food. The smells, the taste and chew each bite thoroughly. Set your utensil down often and take your time… what’s the hurry? All the more reason to not eat while standing up at the kitchen counter, eating fast food…feeling rushed at a food court. Enjoy this experience, your mind and belly will feel full and satisfied. I always get accused that I play with my food. Little do my friends and family know that I’m experiencing the food and taking control of how much goes into my mouth.
Tip 4) Leave food on your plate! It’s OK!
The programming that your parents did to you when you were a child could be harmful. I never force my child to finish her plate. If she’s full…she’s full. This causes obesity at an early age. Restaurants serve food on such large plates which are twice the size of what we used growing up. If you can hear your mom’s voice in your head telling you to finish your food, do yourself a favor and tune her out! Take your leftovers home with you from a restaurant. If you are struggling with this area, ask for a to go box when you order. Place half of your food portion in that box before you start eating. This will help you visually see that you’ve finished your food, while eating only half of the portion. (It’s a win-win, now you have lunch for the next day!)
Tip 5) Don’t leave the house hungry
Unless you’re headed to a restaurant, don’t leave the house hungry. If you’re going grocery shopping you will be tempted to buy everything that looks appealing. If you’re headed to the mall to get some last minute Holiday shopping finished you will grab that cinnamon roll or pretzel that is screaming with zero nutrition and zero nutrient dense calories. If you didn’t get a chance to eat, grab something that has a combination of fiber and protein, an apple, a handful of almonds, an energy bar that is ORGANIC or from a NATURAL source. This will regulate your blood sugar and keep the cravings away until you can eat a proper meal.
Tip 6) Wear skinny jeans
I love this one! We all have a pair of our favorite skinny jeans that we feel good in. If they feel tight, watch yourself … catch the weight gain before it spins out of control. If you’re headed to a favorite restaurant where you have been known to pig out at before, wear those jeans! The tightness will remind you that you love your body the way it is and mindless eating will not keep those jeans fitting the way they do right now. Tight clothes have always worked well for me to not over indulge. Especially if it’s a form fitting holiday dress… do whatever works best for you to stay in control of your food habits
Tip 7) Weigh yourself daily
Not every health coach, trainer or nutritionist will agree with me on this one, but I educate my clients on this routine. Research has shown that women who step on the scale every day and act accordingly to the outcome either by increasing or decreasing their calorie intake or exercise have a better handle on their body shape. In fact 82% of women that practice this habit are less likely to regain the weight they’ve lost. I would also like you to keep a food diary but only if you can be truly honest of what you’ve consumed each day. Seeing these facts visibly is life altering and will keep you in your power state of mind, where YOU control your outcome.
Tip 8) Eat Breakfast
A nice well-rounded breakfast filled with fiber and protein will stick with you for most of the day. This is your cleansing time, a great excuse to eat fruit and veggies along with eggs, steel cut oatmeal and a handful of dark berries will sharpen your mind for a focused and productive day. This has been shown to prevent overeating later in the day as well. I’m a big fan of brunch. Helps me knock out 2 meals in one setting. I rarely eat 3 meals a day but I do my best! Always space out 4-6 hours in between meals if possible (for example: Breakfast at 8am, lunch at 1pm, dinner at 6pm)…this will encourage your body to burn extra body fat. Great weight-loss tip!
Tip 9) Keep a stash of healthy snacks at your place of
employment
This tip has saved me from time to time as well. Next time you go to lunch, stop by a grocery store and just load up on snacks to keep at your desk. For those of you that have an office job where you’re sitting on your rump all day…along with lack of movement, we REALLY do not need to be eating donuts, sweets and other mindless junk. We do feel hungry from time to time and if there are those items at the office, you will be tempted to grab them and take them back to your desk unless you have a good supply of the RIGHT STUFF in your desk drawer. I grab items such as Odwella Fruit bars http://www.odwalla.com/good-products/bars Raw almonds is always at my desk and has saved me from silly cravings. Apples, tangerines, healthy trail mix with dried fruit (no chocolate!), I even have oatmeal or dried granola to grab if necessary.
Drum roll please… last and final tip is……
Tip 10) Brush your teeth after each meal
No I’m not dating a dentist…but yours will thank me! This will work every time. Brushing your teeth or chewing mint gum will always keep you from going back for seconds. The fresh breath combined with clean teeth will subconsciously hold you back from popping one more food item into your mouth. Try it…it works and the upside is that you will have fresh breath and less dentist visits in the future!
I hope this was helpful to you! Please share with a friend so that you both can hold each other accountable to making some necessary life changes to keep your body healthy and beautiful!
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