Surviving the Holidays

When it comes to diet and exercise, no other time of year wreaks havoc like November through January. You can also include that little bomb on October 31 when the mimi members of our family bring home buckets of candy. Sure the candy is SUPPOSED to belong to the kids, but let's face it, only about 50% of it makes it to their little bellies. Whether it's tailgating at football games, Thanksgiving, Christmas get-togethers, or New Year's parties, the sights, the scents, and the company always mean there's good food around. How then can you survive without swelling up to two times your size? Here are some great tips to make it to February. 1.) It's called "tupp life" baby. Pack your food!!! Prep your food ahead of time and pack it in a container that can be reheated. I did that for my husband's Christmas party at work. I knew everyone would be eating some yummy catered food and didn't want to mess myself up since I am prepping for another figure competition. Many times you want to feel like you are part of the party and when everyone else is eating around you, you don't want to just sit there. This fixes that. 2.) Eat ahead of time. If you don't mind watching the others stuff themselves then eat before you go so that you aren't hungry. If you would like to join in on the festivities and eat the food that is available it still helps to snack on some healthy food before you arrive at the party, this way portion size is under control. 3.) Eat the healthiest options available. Most parties have veggie and fruit trays, enjoy them. If you're eating a holiday meal at home, then stick with white meat turkey or chicken and veggies. Don't douse everything in butter or gravy. 4.) Keep those portions under control. When it comes to dessert, or any other treat, keep the sizes small. Have 1/8 of the pie or cake, not 1/4 of it. 5.) Watch for liquid calories. While gravy can fall into this category, I'm talking about alcohol and soda mainly. Portion control comes in here as well. One glass of wine will work and give you that fermented fix you crave. And if you're just dying for some pop then have the diet version over the high octane stuff. I hope these little tricks and tips help! You'll be surprised at how many calories you'll cut by implementing one or more of them. I hope you had a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year!