Christmastime is upon us yet again. It is just amazing how fast a year can pass–and what a year it has been! With the end-of-year holidays comes parties, dinners, drinks, baked goods and oh so many diet killers! What can you do to save yourself from food regret during all of the festivities? Just can’t live without some of grandma’s cookies or auntie’s famous pecan pie?

I’m not going to write this and pretend I don’t love some Stollen and egg nog or sugar cookies and milk during Christmas gatherings. I DO! The best I can do for myself is try to mitigate some of what these treats can do to your calorie or point counting.

Plan Ahead

An important step that is often overlooked when going to events is to plan ahead. Don’t use all your points/calories for the day before you go to the party. You know there is unlikely to be many healthy options so manage your meals and snacks accordingly so those 1-2 sweet tooth treats don’t kill your day.

Pregame

Don’t show up to the party with an empty stomach. Have a sensible snack or healthy meal and plenty of water prior to attending. Your stomach won’t be empty so you’ll be less likely to over-indulge! There is nothing wrong with keeping a protein bar in your pocket either…  Try Quest or Oh Yeah! One protein bars–10 seconds in the microwave and enjoy. Awesome! (see links/images below).

Drink (Water)

A must do is to intake at least one glass of water for every serving of other beverages you may have (wine, cocktails, soda, etc). This will accomplish a few things: minimize the liklihood of you becoming inebriated, lessen your overall calorie/point intake and make sure you do not become dehydrated. The extra water also means your body has what it needs to flush your system of toxins!

Make Time For Exercise

Everyone knows this is one of the busiest times of the year for most. There is shopping to do, family to see, work projects to wrap up for end-of-year and more! Even with all of those things to juggle, don’t leave out time for exercise. Take a walk outside (snowshoeing is GREAT exercise), take the stairs, play some football in the snow, hit the treadmill, shovel some snow, break out those workout videos… whatever is to your liking, just do something. Make it a family activity and then everyone can get in on the action!

Track It

If you eat it, you track it–no excuses. ‘Nuff said.

All said, remember that tomorrow is another day. Even if you fell off the healthy wagon today, don’t put yourself down, just do better tomorrow and the rest of the week to get yourself back on track. The holidays are a time for family, friends, joys, cries and contemplation on the year past and the years to come. Savor the good times and enjoy yourself.

Merry Christmas
Happy Hanukkah
Happy Kwanzaa
Merry Festivus
Happy Holidays
and any I missed. 🙂

Throw these in the microwave for 10 seconds… AWESOME!

 

Photo By: Meno Istorija