I am often asked how to survive the holidays without "falling off of the wagon" - the exercise, healthy eating wagon, that is. After you have worked hard to lose weight and get healthy, heading into a period of time when you are surrounded by temptation can be difficult, to say the least!
I believe the keyword is expectations. What are your expectations? If you are expecting to lose weight, you probably need to step back and revise your expectations. If you don't, you will see temptation at every turn. There are so many opportunities to eat our favorite foods - parties, family gatherings and gifts from friends, family and neighbors. Depriving yourself during this time can lead to overeating later.
Instead, expect to maintain a good, moderate level of activity and plan to indulge a bit more than normal. If you are going to a party - contribute a healthy dish or eat something healthy before you go so that you are not as tempted when you get there. When faced with a buffet style situation, eat mainly what's healthy - fruits, veggies, proteins and eat smaller portions of the more indulgent foods.
As far as activity, keep a regular schedule - get out there and stay active. If you miss a day, don't beat yourself up, just be sure to get in some time the next day. Exercising through the holidays is a wonderful way to combat the added stress that a lot of people feel during this time.
Most of all, remember - everything in moderation.
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