Strategies Not to Gain Weight Over the Holidays

I've given more thought to the problem of weight gain over the holidays and how to avoid it. It's not as easy as saying I'm going to be on a diet. I've been there, done that. I've even successfully eaten sensibly on Thanksgiving day. My real problem... well that's what I want to talk about. The first step is to identify the real problem. We all have weak moments, and today we'll take a moment to discuss what they might be. If we can identify the problem, we'll be more aware of the places we may encounter it so we can customize a plan to thwart the potential pitfall.

Not everyone struggling with their weight makes poor diet choices under the same conditions. However, many of us cave in for one or more of the following reasons:

*from habit
*peer pressure
*boredom
*stress

My first suggestion to help combat all these reasons is to have quiet time of meditation/prayer everyday. When we think we can overcome these weak moments in our own strength, we may be successful for a while, but when our strength runs out we'll crash and burn. That's not a good plan. Look back at my post on the Healthful Benefits of Meditation. Medication helps to beat the stress of the holiday season which in turn can lower the risk of stuffing your face with holiday goodies by succumbing to external pressures.

During your time of meditation, give attention to your diet. It helps keep food in the right perspective. And as you think about food and your diet, don't just focus on the holiday season. In reality the time frame is just weeks in the year...such a short amount of time to wreak such havoc with your weight. And not just your weight. Think of your health. Taking time to meditate can help you keep food in it's proper place. Instead of making food the central focus of all you do, make it your health. If you don't meditate regularly, make it a habit now.

Holiday No Weight Gain Strategies

As we look ahead to the holidays and plan our strategies not to gain weight, I thought I'd pass this bit of wisdom on contributed by one of my faithful readers, Roberta:

I don't know if it is practical for anybody else, but one of the things I do to control what I eat at Thanksgiving is to have the dinner at my house. That way I can make food that fits into my weightloss plan: I've learned how to make everything low fat, even the dressing and gravy. Nobody knows the difference until I tell them. Although cooking and hosting a dinner for a large family is hard work, I look at it as another opportunity to burn more calories. LOL!

If I'm going out to a party I bring my favorite low fat dish or desert to share, so I always have something to eat that won't pudge me out! As far as those delicious traditional goodies that others bring, I've found that all I need to satisfy me is a tiny piece or a few bites.

If any of the rest of you have tips you'd like to share feel free to comment. Let's plan now. Thanksgiving is just around the corner!

I'm starting the second week of my cleanse today and am thanking God that I'm in one piece as I had an...accident...eye opening experience...well I took a fall this weekend. I was racing my 11-year-old grandson full out when i felt myself typing slightly forward. My mind said, I think you're going to fall. you are going to fall. Don't put your hands out, you'll break your wrists! And then I slammed into the asphalt. Left leg, palm of left hand, chest, and then my head snapped forward and my face whacked the pavement! Phew! And I'm alive. With a black eye, skinned palm and knee, and that's all! Of course everyone reminds me that I'm not 12. :) Guess I need those reminders every once in a while.