How To Resist Temptations...

How To Resist Temptations...

Christian Bossert on Lifestyle 

During the holidays the temptations to break the diet and skip exercise seem to be everywhere; at home and at the office. Here is a guide that not only allows you to enjoy the holidays, have fun at parties, and celebrate, but it also allows you to feel freaking amazing when January rolls around. Read on to learn more!

If you find it very difficult to eat healthy during the holidays, and make time to stay in shape, you are not alone. Most people find it hard to resist the holiday cookies, fresh pumpkin pie, creamy mashed potatoes, the homemade gravies and the creamy eggnog fortified with good old Captain Morgan (I-there mate-eey!).

Compounding the problem is the many invites and holiday tasks, which compete with the time you would normally spend on yourself, like being in the gym.
During the holidays the temptations to break the diet and skip the gym seem to be everywhere; at home and at the office.
 
Common Pitfalls Include:

• Office potlucks and holiday parties.
• The neighborhood kids candy drives.
• Your significant other's office parties.
• Family and friends holiday gatherings.
• Counter snacks that seem to be at every front reception desk, be it a doctor appointment or even at the neighborhood tune and lube.

If the mere site of these tempting delectable high fattening morsels don't do you in, then you are like many others; the peer pressure wins you over. It is understandable how many people do not want to be the odd man out at a party or offend a host by not eating Grandma's special secret gravy recipe.
 
Nutrition Tips.

You do not have to give up your favorite foods to maintain a healthy diet during the holiday season. Small adjustments in your eating habits can make a big difference in your health, your physique and overall well being.

Tips When Attending Events:

• Eat smaller pieces or portions. If you must have some of the "less healthy" dishes try to eat smaller pieces or portions.
• Add some fiber, roughage, salads, and vegetables without the high fattening dressings, butter or sauces and eat them first to increase your satiety level before gorging on the sweet and higher fattening items.
• Seriously speaking, good portion control and adding good foods to your meal will allow you some normalcy, while also allowing you to enjoy the flavors of the foods without feeling as stuffed, and without feeling deprived.
• Choose the sparkling water instead of the alcohol (believe me the entertainment of others drinking while you stay sober is worth the price of admission); especially at office parties.
• Practice "focused eating." Enjoy one bite at a time; thoroughly chew your food until the flavor is minimal, before swallowing. Also be aware that it takes time (usually approximately 20 minutes) for a feeling of fullness to reach the brain from your stomach. This satiety (fullness) time will vary from person to person and food to food so find the time that works best for you.
• Recognize the delay and use it to your advantage so that you do not overeat (and need to unzip those pants and catch your breath after a meal). Do not feel the need to finish what is on your plate just because it is there or because it is "paid for".
• Mingle, jingle and network. The more you walk and talk the more friends you will make, the more calories you will burn, and the less food you will be stuffing into your mouth.

Make The Time For Fitness
During the holidays there are many more events to attend, holiday shopping requirements, end of the year business tasks to complete, daylight is shortened... There are a number of legitimate task tugging at your "gym time". However, these are also the important reasons to schedule your gym time.

Maintaining muscle mass is important not only for the sake of appearance, but also to help prevent your metabolic rate from slowing. Working out will also provide many additional benefits to you during this high stress time of the year.

Working out will also help reduce the holiday stress. If you are stressed out, you'll be too exhausted to make good food choices. All your favorite comfort foods will start to look even more tempting.
Working out will keep you away physically from the holiday junk food temptation, if only for a little bit, while speeding up your metabolic rate making your fat burning engine run faster, and more efficient.