Christmas = FOOD

We all know that Christmas means way more food to tempt us than we would normally have on offer.  For some this is not a problem.  For others it is one HUGE problem.  There are people who find themselves in the middle of a weight loss regime with Christmas fast approaching.  So how can you get through Christmas with as little side effects as possible?




Relax.

For starters, it's Christmas.  It is the time of year where family and friends get together and you may not have seen each other for a while.  Lunch, dinner or drinks - or all, are the perfect excuse for a get together.  So, stop stressing and ENJOY.  If you keep a level head, you can limit the potential damage.  It is much better for you to give yourself permission to enjoy yourself than to over indulge and then feel guilty afterwards.  People who stress about how much they've eaten or are going to eat, or try to limit the amount of calories they are going to eat, do not actually end up eating fewer calories.  So you may as well relax about it and do not obsess.

Get organized.

There is nothing worse than eating far too much turkey and roast potatoes thinking you can skip dessert, only to find that your host has prepared your all time favorite sweet.  If you are not organizing the meal, ask your host; "Hey!  What's for dinner?  Can I bring something?" This is a polite way of getting all the information you need to make wise food choices.

I love desserts, and they are something that on the whole I tend to stay way away from.  But, if I am eating out and I really want that dessert, then I limit the other food in order to enjoy the dessert.

If you are faced with a large buffet, take a while to look at everything that is on offer.  I do a "walk around", and have a look at everything from the starters to the mains to the desserts.  Then I go back to the beginning and pick what I really want to eat instead or just piling my plate with a little of everything.

Follow a certain order.

You might have been saving yourself all day so you can really enjoy your family dinner.  But you don't want to go too far and end up feeling like you ate the whole dinner yourself.  There are 3 important things you need to keep in mind:

1.  Carbs make you fat.
2.  Protein makes you feel fuller for longer.
3.  Vegetables give you necessary vitamins and minerals and stop your system getting blocked from all the excess food.

So, start your meal by eating protein (turkey) and vegetables.  This will take the edge off your hunger and you will probably eat less roast potatoes and dessert.

Be Mindful.

Listen to your body.  It takes roughly 20 minutes for the message from your gut to reach your brain that you are full.   So, eat slowly, take a break between courses.  Most of these lunches and dinners can be leisurely so take advantage of that and put your knife and fork down while catching up with your cousin who you haven't seen for 10 years!

Once you are full, stop eating.  There is no fun in feeling like you are about to explode and you will regret it and you will feel guilty.

Using smaller plates also stops you eating too much and use a smaller wine glass too.  Also, pre dinner drinks is a great way to lose the plot.  If you've had a drink or two before dinner, then your inhibitions will be lower and you won't "care" as much about how much you eat.  However, you may well regret it afterwards.  Drink alcohol once you have started eating.

Keep moving.

Don't give up on your normal exercise regime.  Lounging in front of the TV is not a good way to keep your food control in check.  Carry on as normal, or, if you don't have a habitual exercise regime, then now is the time to get one going.  Exercise is extremely important for optimal health and should be a part of every day life - all year round.  So get into a good habit and then carry on with it.  This will help good digestion too.

I can help you improve your health.  If you would like to make an appointment with me either in person or via Skype, just send me an email to lucycarr@socialnutrition.com