Marlene's Tips for Holiday Feasts

Tomorrow, we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday which reminds us all to be thankful and greatfull for all of the blessings in our lives. On that note, I would like to share some of my tips for celebrating the holiday feast when you lead a heathy, yet still fun, lifestyle.

• On the morning of the holiday meal, do CARDIO!  Aim for at least 45 minutes but anything is better than nothing.
• Prior to the meal, limit alcoholic drinks to 2 DRINK MAXIMUM.  Excessive alcohol intake prior to eating a large meal will damper your pleasure sense to enjoy the food.  It also inducing potential overeating.
• Prior to the meal, avoid filling up on simple carbs fillers such as crackers, chips and bread.  Save your calories for the good stuff!
• For the meal, have one full plate of everything you want.  Don't restrict your selections.  This allows you to feel that you aren't missing out on any of the good items.
• After you have consumed your plate, STOP.  Do not go for seconds immediately. 
• Wait at least 15 minutes before you consider getting seconds. 
• In lieu of seconds, you could allow yourselves to have another alcoholic drink or even another dessert item.  A plate of seconds will probably cost you around 1000 calories.  A drink is only 150 and a drink item (like another slice of pie) is around 450 calories.  So either of those is a better option than the second plate.
• The final reason to avoid seconds, the pleasure hormones which give you enjoyment when eating good food are dulled after you have ingested the initial portion of the food.  So although you believe it tastes so good and you just have to have more, the "more" will not be as satisfying as the original.  Most people just mindlessly eat so we aren't tuned into this but seriously, it is worth considering.
• On the day following the holiday meal, do not weigh yourself.  The excessive food and alcohol intake will lead to a misleading weight.  Alcohol can also dehydrate you so you might end up weighing less, but that is just water weight and again, it is not a good indication of anything.

Finally, the #1 rule which everyone should follow even if you ignore the ones above.... NEVER EVER eat anything that you don't truly want to eat.  Do not be peer pressured by friends or family.  Do not listen to the 'it's the holiday, you must it is' or 'you are already thin, you shouldn't have to worry' or 'it's just one day.'   Ultimately, it's your body and your life.  Take control and stay in control!

Happy Holidays!