The Holidays are here!
I hope you’re enjoying the top 10 tips to avoid holiday weight
gain. This is the last post for the
series.
Tip #8: Monitor portion size.
Did you know that the average American can consume more than
4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day? Just
to put this into perspective, when an average woman goes for a run, she will
burn about 100 calories for each mile.
It would take 45 miles to run off the Thanksgiving calories. It’s easy to see how we may gain weight
during the season. So how can we enjoy
our holiday celebrations without the dreaded weight gain?
We all have favorite foods we associate with the
holidays. Have a small portion of the
things you really enjoy, but don’t eat until you’re uncomfortably full. Try to
include vegetables and protein in all of your meals. Studies show that people
who have a broth-based soup or green salad prior to their meals tend to consume
fewer calories overall. Other strategies include using a smaller plate and
sitting near other healthy eaters.
Tip #9: Stay accountable (to
yourself).
Weigh yourself before the holiday season and get on the scale
periodically. It’s easier to lose 2 or 3
pounds rather than wait until you’ve gained 10.
It can be helpful to keep a food journal. We don’t always
realize how many extra calories we’re consuming until we write it down. A
common pitfall can be taste-testing. A bite here and there can easily add up to
more than 500 calories.
Tip #10: Make over your
favorite recipes.
Make healthier versions of holiday favorites like green-bean
casserole and mashed potatoes. Changes to recipes should reduce fat, sugar and
salt. You can use the Internet to search for alternative recipes or find new
dishes. Here’s a great link for some
lighter versions of your favorite recipes.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/thanksgiving/photos/healthy-thanksgiving-recipes.html
The best gift you can give to yourself is the gift of
health. At Amethyst Wellness, we wish
you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season.
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