Ten Holiday Survival Tips – And A New Healthier You By New Years Day

It’s less than 48 hours till Thanksgiving here in USA and as my dad would say “let the eating begin”.  In our house it was an eating frenzy from Thanksgiving Day till New Years Day.  Oh, there was that tinge of regret for being glutins between Christmas and New Years Day, but that was soon forgotten as the parades and ball games on New Years Day took precedent.   

Here I am entering my 59th year and my thoughts go to… Why can’t the holidays  be a time for celebration? It really is a time for appreciating all the laughter, tears and joy that comes with being human and being thankful for all the special moments in our live, as we celebrate them with  with friends and family.  Unfortunately I spent the first 50 plus years of my life putting thoughts  about eating health on the back burner and every year I gained more weight as I overate, over drank and then complain about all the weight I gained over the holidays.

What if this year we took a break from the holiday feasting . Thanksgiving is upon us and there will be a lot of food, so  enjoy it!! Eat everything you want, ON THANKSGIVING. That does not mean you eat everything you want all weekend. Once Thanksgiving is over, you can reset your focus and begin to concentrating on how you should be eating and exercising between now and Christmas.  You will have a lot to think abut with all the parties, and family gatherings that go hand in hand with the holiday season.

These ten tips will hopefully keep you on track:

1. Time to go back to your regular eating routine. Eating your regular meals will help your system stay in balance and burn fats and let you use your carbohydrates for energy. Do not skip any meals even if you are planning on a big event at the end of the day. Saving calories for later is basically saying you will overeat later. Saving your calorie intake for later in the day will cause you to gain weight in the long run.
2. If you know you are going to a holiday party in the evening a couple of hours before going to the party you should grab a healthy small snack made up of some sort of fruit or/and vegetables. Top the snack of with a glass of vegetable juice and you’ll be less likely to eat and drink too much at the event.
3. Make sure you schedule exercise into your daily routine. Give your time for exercise top priority so your body will be better able to handle the holiday dinners and parties.
4. When you go to holiday parties, concentrate on being social. It’s a good idea to remember that it’s a lot easier to talk when you do not have food in your mouth. If you do eat try to minimize the sweets and fats by first filling up your plate from the vegetable tray that is usually a part of the festivities.
5. When you attend a holiday dinner, start out with the salad and try to have your dressing on the side.  Do you best to a vegetarian dinner or ask for a special plate made up of the freshest raw vegetables and fruits possible. If you feel out of place ordering raw food or a vegetarian plate, then order fish.  Stick to broiled, grilled, steamed, roasted or baked entrees.
6. At holiday parties, take the time to look over the buffet table, when you arrive. This way you are familiar with the food and when you get in line you will be able to make the healthiest choices and because they are healthy, you can come back for seconds.
7. When you are visiting friends and family bring some of your favorite healthy foods, including fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Many times you will find family and friends who will love to go shopping with you, giving you the opportunity to socialize and to share your knowledge about how to buy the foods that really fuel your body and help to keep a slim waistline…
8. Sometimes healthy dishes are simply not available. This is a time when you hope you have brought along a healthy snack. If you find yourself empty handed, head for the water, add some lemon and drink the night away. If you do choose to eat make sure you watch your portion sizes, as even small amounts of unhealthy food can play havoc with your metabolism. That being said, eating a little bit of unhealthy food is better than a lot of it.
9. On the days when there are no festivities, take advantage of these days off and refill your body with living foods. Don’t diet!!! Try to make meals in which at least two thirds of your plate is filled with living foods. Eating this way on the non-event day will enable you to will keep your body healthy and to have better control your appetite.
10. For many of us alcoholic beverages are standard fare during the holiday season. The problem with alcohol is that it makes it more difficult to make decisions about good food choices, so do your best to not drink any at all. If you do decide to drink try to stick to a glass of wine mixed 50/50 with pure water. Stay healthy and happy.

May this holiday season be the best ever…

Love and Blessings,

Bobby

COME BACK TOMORROW… I HAVE A PARTY TO GET READY FOR.  LOL …. IN THE MEAN TIME CHECK OUT THE RAW HOLIDAY RECIPES: 

You don’t need to lose weight during the holiday season,  but you sure don’t need to gain it either.   So this year let the fun begin on Thanksgiving,  but let’s leave the excuses behind with the New Year.  See you tomorrow with your 10 tips!

Blessings,

Bobby