Cookies, fudge, and fruitcake, oh my! Well, maybe not the fruitcake. This is a season where we all overindulge on sweet treats. Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, and gifts made out of sugar and butter are endless temptations that lurk everywhere.
Lost cause, right? Just give in and eat these scrumptious treats and gifts. Besides, the resolution for every New Year is to lose weight. So this time, you’ll stick to it and really succeed. Right after you eat that tray of double fudge brownies calling your name from the conference room.
Sound familiar? It really does not have to be this way. You can enjoy the sugary, chocolaty, decadent treats and not gain a ton of weight. With a little discipline and a lot of pep talks from your inner skinny girl, you can glide through the holidays! There are a few simple and totally do-able tricks to protect your blood sugar from record highs this holiday season. Here are the top two:
1. Stop denying yourself these treats. Once you tell yourself that you cannot have something, odds are that you do nothing more than obsess over that one thing you really want but can’t have. You picture the gooey melted chocolate chips that drip heavenly little messes on your chin as you partake in the deliciousness of breaking the law of your diet. Maybe you are even letting some grainy and luscious fudge melt in your mouth while the Calgon commercial seems like a distant memory of unattainable bliss. OK, enough of the food porn! Seriously, you do not have to deny yourself these treats that you so desire. The trick is to eat a little, a few bites, and then stop. I will pause for a moment while you stop laughing. Now, you can taste these treats. Taste them, not eat a plateful or even a handful of them. You CAN satisfy your sweet tooth with just a bite. Take your time, enjoy the taste and texture of the treat, and then move on to the next part of your day. Pride will swell in your heart as you walk past the cookie table after that small taste that can last the entire day. Your coworkers will salute your efforts, you will get that promotion. OK, now I am being melodramatic. However, you will be proud to show off your unscathed waistline in January while you watch everyone around you weep tears of regret into their morning coffee, remembering with disdain the cookies that got them into this mess. So, take a small bite and move on. You gave in to the temptation the smart way!
2. Don’t be lazy. Part of the reason that people gain weight over the winter months, and more specifically the holidays, is because they lead a more sedentary lifestyle. It may be too cold to go for your morning jog or power walk with the dogs after dinner, but with some creativity you can replace those calorie burning activities with others. Lifting some weights in the morning and working up a sweat doing so is a wonderful way to combat the winter months. Metabolism can be boosted for up to 36 hours with a good weight training workout. Invest in a few 10 pound weights and follow your chosen workout from this site 4 times a week. This will keep you in shape and even add some nice tone to your body.
Remember, don’t deny yourself a few SMALL pleasures and don’t turn into a couch potato! With those 2 simple steps taken, you can fight the battle of the bulge this holiday season.
