Everyone knows that around the holidays, we tend to eat a little bit more than we usually do the rest of the year, which means that we are more liable to be putting on the extra pounds. So how do we enjoy ourselves throughout the holiday season and maintain our body weight or even slim down a little? Not to worry, I have found the answer.
Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, pecan pie–it makes my mouth water just typing the words. Who’s kidding whom? Denying yourself on such occasions is bound to bring on the mother of all binges. You’ll be eating your head off for a week. And regardless from what anyone says, you can’t get fat in just one day.
Enjoy yourself; eat all you can hold–as I always do–and you’ll be happy to go back to healthy eating the next day. You’ll be in complete control.
If you handle it correctly, your weight will be back to normal in three or four days. That means not taking any food home.
If you’re eating at Grandma’s house or someplace else outside the home, politely refuse the inevitable offers to take stuff home. If you’re eating at home, get rid of the festive fare–and put the really bad stuff down the disposal. At the very least put everything away; get it out of sight.
Freezing is usually a good option for food you can’t bring yourself to throw away. The next day you might have gained between one and three pounds, but do not be alarmed. The pounds that show up on the scale the next day are mostly water, from the extra salt in holiday meals. It goes away in a few days of normal eating, especially if you drink lots of water to flush out your system.
So eat up. Enjoy yourself. But don’t keep stuffing your face. Go back to healthy eating–and exercising.