health•healthy living•keeping weight in check around the holidays•nutrition
How To Keep Your Weight in Check Over the Holidays
December 17, 2014So I don’t know if it was my genius idea or the fact that every Saturday at my venue was taken for two years but I decided to have my Wedding right after the holidays. Therefore I have been hyper aware of keeping myself in check this holiday season and thought I would share some of my tried and true ways of not being surprised by the scale after the holidays.
Bring A Dish
Whether you are hosting or going to another dinner and you are asked to bring a dish, one way I try to stay healthy is to make one non calorie laden dish to share…that way if there are a lot of high calorie temptations you have a healthy go to option like this Baked Spaghetti Squash with Garlic or Cheesy Cauliflower better than Potatoes side.
I also do this for work luncheons or potlucks…try it next time bringing a salad with lots of fresh veggies on it, you will have a go to safe bet especially if you are not too sure where some of those questionable looking sides were prepared……
Try to Keep an Eye on the Alcohol Consumption
I don’t know about you but too many glasses of wine leads to hitting up multiple trips to the dessert table because doesn’t every dessert have to be tried??
Chug That Water
Helps to not overeating or mistaking hungry for thirst. Also it is key to combating the salt in most of the dishes and aids with digestion. Plus it will help with not accidentally over consuming the adults bevs.
Exercise
There are a lot of places open leading up to the holidays. You know that feeling when you get in a workout before the big day starts! If that’s not an option make sure you get up and walk after dinner or try to squeeze in a quick at home workout…such as here and here. I also installed the Human app. It tracks your daily walking and gives you encouragement when you haven’t hit your daily 30 at least.
Or you can always resort back to my 7 days of at home workouts post!
Smaller plates
The bigger the plate the more you put on it to fill it (basically you fill to your plate). I usually try to find the smaller dinner plate or even stick with the salad plate to start with.
Skip or Limit The Apps
Oh those brie bakes are the best right? However appetizers are usually the worst when it comes to the calorie busters. I usually stack my plates with the fresh veggies and one or two pieces of cheese and then here is the key point….. remove myself from the app table. When you hang around there it is like the sorority lunchroom…..always eating and conversing with the next group of people swinging in. Before you know if you’ve consumed major calories and you wonder where that freshman 15 comes from.
Avoid leftovers
If you are hosting, load up your guests as they leave or if you are attending politely decline or if the host is insistent try to take home some of the lighter options….because we all know that saying no to leftover pie in the morning with coffee takes will power!
My Number #1 Piece of Advice That I Need to Take Myself
Don’t Get Duped Into All the Holiday Themed Goodies
I am immediately drawn as you are all well aware to everything peppermint themed. The problem is they are usually very high in calories and fat. I am officially done with all the peppermint temptations. Declaring it now…..it’s all about accountability right?
The last thing I will say. Enjoy the day with your friends and family. You can always get back on track the next day but just a few little thoughts to help during the season!
What is your go to advice about trying to not let things get out of control during the holidays? Let me know I am open to all suggestions!!! xoxoxo
Oh my, that drinking & baking meme is so great! Luckily my family is pretty healthy, so I don’t have to worry over the holidays. We always take an annual Christmas family walk in the morning before any food or drinks!
I always try to eat on smaller plates- it really does help with consumption!! Avoiding bread is key for me because the apps are just too hard to say no to!! I do avoid themed stuff like cookies and cupcakes – I’d rather focus on the food not the sugar LOL!!! Great tips girl!! xo, Biana – BlovedBoston
It is hard to stay on track this time of year! I think these tips are great for anytime though! I try to use the smaller dish if I am having higher calorie items so that I convince myself I have had enough. Apps are so good, sometimes I get an app instead of a meal….I save somewhere right? Haha!
I totally fail at all of these… especially during the holidays but you did inspire me to start using my smaller plates to eat off of! I don’t know why I never thought of that before actually haha! And you’ve also inspired me to go to the gym today… I could use it!
<3, Pamela
Sequins & Sea Breezes
YES to drinking lots of water! I am a sucker for the adult beverages on the weekends, but during the week all I drink is water. Getting our work outs in are hard, but I always say do what you can :)
This is so true, especially the water! Except I’m totally going to use the eating for two excuse for sure! ;)
Great suggestions! I’ve found myself so tempted these days, especially at the office because we always have so many treats that show up. Trying to up my water intake for sure!
xo Southern Style
Awesome post! You know how I feel about staying active during the holidays per my earlier post ;) I’m just a big fan of bonding with your family over a walk as opposed to eating a whole pie together.
Here’s an “un-PC” trick I do with the leftover situation: You never want to be rude, right? So I accept a plate of whatever the hostess gives me. Before I walk in my door, I take it to the trash and get rid of it! Is that bad?! I just don’t want 30 Christmas cookies sitting on my counter!
Love this post lady!! I was thinking about doing a post like this too, haha. I think that these are all great ideas. Especially the exercising part!!! SO important. Yesterday when I was at Trader Joe’s I was trying to find something with chocolate and peppermint that was somewhat healthy, yeah didn’t find anything. I have been drinking a lot of skinny peppermint mochas though haha. Anyways, fab post. I hope that you are having a great day so far too!
All great tips! I love the bringing your own dish the best. Then you know you’re eating something you can control!
I love the idea of bringing your own dish! I was going to bring buffalo chicken dip for New Years eve, but maybe I will opt for a healthier app to start off the new year right. Have you ever made the mashed cauliflower? It looks soo good. Also I know you’re the queen of healthy eating. Any lighter appetizer ideas? xo
I totally agree with all of these! The drinking water one especially! I try to alternate one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage–especially in situations where we could end up drinking FOR HOURS..it helps me not to make a fool of myself too :)
My self control over the holidays does not exist. EEEEEK! Reading these tips makes me feel guilty though so hopefully I will remember them the next time I’m reaching for [my third] dessert :-O
Happy wedding planning!
xx
Because I’m Obsessed
These are great tips! Drinking water definitely helps, which I totally suck at but trying to do better! I’m not so good with the willpower lately, ugh! I just really don’t want to gain any weight back that I lost, and so far so good but I know I need to watch it closely!
All great tips to help and good things to keep in mind. Sometimes it feels so hard, but little changes can make a BIG difference!
I feel like I fail at the “consume less alcohol” part with all these darned holiday parties! haha. I like the cauliflower idea! That look relish.
Cheesy cauliflower mash – I’m on that!! Looks so good. Great suggestions to keep weight in check xo
Great tips, lady! I use the only eat homemade treats rule and I up my water intake to 3 water bottles a day.
ah i’m so sorry i missed this post yesterday. my bloglovin was acting all kinds of crazy anyway so let’s just blame that. anyway, these are all great tips! i’m making brownies for our potluck tomorrow. so the opposite of good but whatever. i’m a salty person anyway so these won’t be too terrible :)
cheshirekatblog.com
im glad you included this in your last post bc these are great tips. i always go for smaller plates…and i havent been drinking anything other than water for the past few months. its nice not to crave pop anymore and i dont really miss booze *thank you baby! the only tip i’ll probably ignore is to pass up the appetizers… that’s my favorite part! xo jillian – cornflake dreams
Girl the peppermint goodies have been killing me! I’m officially ready for the holidays to be over so it all disappears! This is the first year I’ve stayed on track throughout the holidays with a workout schedule and it’s definitely made me feel better!
I always end up overdrinking which leads to overeating! I try to always drink a full glass of water between each drink so I don’t get tipsy too fast and pass out by 9pm!
great tips girl.. but I am going to eat ALL the food and worry about it after the holidays. That’s so bad but we are going to NYC and I just want to eat.
UM, is this a bad time to announce I think I’ve fallen into ALL of your traps!? Oops! With an emphasis on the wine and dessert … lol!!!
Haha I’m with Kristen! This is my one time of year I just go all the heck out. Now if I had a wedding right around the corner, that is a different story!! Good call on using smaller plates, I’m going to start doing that for sure!
Wonderful tips girl!
I am cracking up right now at that ecard.
I have been putting off my christmas cookie baking because i end up eating half the batch while they are cooling.
I always try and bring a dish I know I can eat and fill up on salad instead of desserts.