Getting Ready For The Holidays

It is that time of year again. The holidays have swiftly come upon us. You had all the summer fun and fall festivities, and now we are bringing it in with Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve. All the fabulous food dates that we have each year. Many of us try to lose weight before the holiday, just to gain it all back during the holiday and start the year off with a new year's resolution of trying to lose weight...AGAIN! It is a vicious cycle. Wouldn't it be better if we chose to live a healthy and active lifestyle and when this time rolls around, we just enjoy it and go back to our healthy habits? Can it really be that easy?

For some, it is a struggle when it comes to this last part of the year. Family gatherings, usually means lots of food and usually the 'good' stuff that isn't really all that good for you. However, you can enjoy the family gatherings with mental rules in place. Those rules will help you get through that third Thanksgiving at cousin Marie's house. You know what I am saying. You have several houses to visit on Thanksgiving, but unsure how to navigate all the food. Since Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that everyone usually celebrates it on the same day. So, you can't do one house today and another tomorrow. To combat the war you will be having in your head, you can easily get through it by making plans of how you plan to eat. Let's use this for an example, you have three houses to visit for the day. All three are set to have dinner at different times.

The first house, have appetizers and a sparkling water. Enjoy the family conversations and then head out to house number two. Hopefully house number two has the best food. If not, make sure you take 'to go' boxes from the places that you won't be able to have or enjoy a full meal. If house number two has the best food, that is where you have your dinner. Only eat until you feel that just before full feeling. Then go for a family walk and get to know those long lost cousins you only see once or twice a year. Get in full belly laughs and enjoy your family. This is where we find that we are thankful for our family members, including the crazy ones. They make you laugh and those laughs help you burn extra calories. See what I did there? You're probably laughing in your head right now. Then head inside, say your goodbyes and then head out to house number three.

At house number three, this is where you get the desserts. So, please make sure house number three is a great baker or the folks that are bringing desserts are. Otherwise you will be quite disappointed. Or you may be happy, because you can skip dessert and have conversation only. However, you must play this one cool if you decide not to have anything. Folks tend to get offended. So you pop out with your 'to go' box drop some nasty concoction in and say you will have it later, because you are so full right now. If you enjoy a nice beverage, grab that instead and sip slowly while having conversation.

You see how easy it can be to enjoy the holiday at several different houses? This can be adapted for Christmas as well. This time of year is also when the holiday parties are in full swing. So on the day of the parties you can do this as well. Usually parties don't have full meals, but different appetizers and desserts. Graze carefully and dance the night away. That dancing is considered exercise and also helps burn those extra calories you just inhaled. Have fun and don't worry if you over ate on a day or not. You can always start all over the next day. You can forgive yourself for over indulging. You just pick yourself up and start all over again. Treat each day as a brand new day. Then maintaining a healthy lifestyle won't be so hard. So enjoy this time of year and don't forget to bring your 'to go' boxes!