Uh-oh, it’s time for the holidays. Does that sentiment sound a little absurd? Aren’t holidays supposed to be about joy and merriment? Well, if you’ve spent all year working on getting your body in shape, you may see the upcoming celebrations as a daunting parade of dinner parties, buffet tables, second helpings and must-taste desserts. Sometimes it can be fun to loosen your belt and chow down – and we certainly wouldn’t want to dissuade your ability to enjoy your festive events. But there are some tips that can help you make smart choices even in the midst of endless edible temptations.
- Keep track of what you eat. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in accepting bites from passing trays or trying all of the delicious options that people have made for the occasion. Sticking with small portions and eat slowly throughout the night is useful, but may lead you to lose track of your overall intake – as opposed to one main meal where it’s easy to see what’s on your plate. Keep in mind what you’re eating, and it will naturally result in making smarter decisions.
- Remember the hidden calories! You may know to stay away from the chocolate mousse, but do you know how much sugar even a dry white wine can hide? Fill up on water between your other drinks and try to choose the food with the most fruits and veggies. Another area to look out for is dips and dressings; aim for those that are thick and vegetable-based, like hummus or a tomato salsa.
- Parties also provide plenty of opportunities to keep moving! Stay on your feet as you mingle, offer to help bring in those extra chairs or fetch someone a new drink – and of course, always be ready to hit the dance floor.
And of course, it’s vital that you keep up your visits to our Pivotal Fitness Greenville gym. We advise adding an extra visit right before your major feasting events; some people promise themselves they’ll go afterward, but it’s much harder to follow through when you’re already in the mindset of stalling and you’ve already indulged. By coming in and preemptively attacking those extra calories, you’re already off the hook. So you can nosh on hors d’oeuvres and eye that second slice of pie to your heart’s content – guilt-free. And hey, if you also want to come in again right after your indulgence, you’ll only feel even better about yourself. How many holiday bingers can say that? Well, Pivotal Fitness Greenville gym members can.
We’ll follow up with more smart holiday eating and exercising tips as the months progress, so check back for even more motivation!