Breathe Magazine

Holiday time is here again, and no matter what you celebrate, you are bound to be bombarded with cookies, candies, pastries, dips and cheese. Oh, the cheese.

What’s the big deal? It’s the holidays, let’s celebrate! The problem is, most Americans gain 1-5 pounds over the holiday season and never lose it.

You can indulge, and have your favorite treats, but you have to know how to do it right. BY cutting out the extra, for no reason treats and focusing on what you really want, you may actually be able to have a New Year’s Resolution NOT devoted to losing weight.

Watch What You Drink

Alcohol not only adds tons of calories, but it also weakens your inhibitions, making you more likely to grab some carby goodness to soak up your liquid fun. Alcohol also dehydrates you, which can, again, lead you to the snack table looking to fill the hole in your stomach. Alternate your alcoholic beverages with water, or better yet, volunteer to be designated driver.

BYOT (Bring Your Own Treats)

It’s the season of giving, no? Well, that gift can actually be more for you than the receiver. If you are invited to a party, make a healthy dish to present to the host, and make it your food for the night. If they are polite, they will put it out for all to share, and you will know exactly what ingredients are in it, and that it is healthy for you. That’s something you can’t say about that creamy dip that would normally be calling your name.

Do You Really Want That?

You can allow yourself treats, but don’t go insane. You know there will be tons of great things to eat at the upcoming party, on Christmas day, or at the New Years brunch, so eat! But in order to do that guilt-free, you have to avoid the filler indulgences. A cookie when no one is looking, some extra cheese and meat that won’t fit on the platter, and extra helping of mashed potatoes at a regular, run-of-the-mill dinner. These really add up. Make every decision a conscious one–don’t just pop things in your mouth.

Exercise!

Get off the couch and move! It may not seem worth it when you’re stuffed full of ham, but every little bit of exercise counts. Winter is a great time to get active with your family: go ice skating, snowboarding, snow shoeing, build a snowman, or just go for a crisp walk. Not only will exercise help burn off those indulgences, you’ll be so busy having fun you won’t think about any mindless eating.

The holidays are a time to be with loved ones, not to scare everyone into dieting which then just makes them over eat anyway, and ruin their January by starving themselves.  We make the holidays about food, and dread it because of that, but remember what the holidays are really about–and it has nothing to do with calories.