Holiday Tip #2

Don’t skip meals!

We all have been there. You know, waking up on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day (or whatever your festive holiday of choice), and deciding you were not going to eat until all of the food was ready, for fear of not having an appetite by the time the festive meal was served.

Big mistake….because once you sit down to eat with an empty stomach, 4-6 hours after waking up, you are just setting yourself up to define the term “pig out!” Eating one big festive meal, plus a load of desserts afterwards, is a recipe for disaster in regards to your fitness program.

Wake up early enough to have a big, balanced/healthy breakfast composed of a lean protein (eggs, fat-free or reduced fat milk, lean meat), fiberous carbohydrate (i.e. whole grain cereal, or oatmeal), and a serving of fruits or veggies.

If your festive meal will not be ready within 3-4 hours after breakfast, eat a small snack for lunch such as fat-free or low fat yogurt, a serving of fruit with a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter, or a salad full of various greens with a tablespoon of olive oil.

In doing this, you insure that your metabolism does not slow down, which can lead to fat storage, as well as a reduction in energy. Oh, you thought “tryptophan” was the reason your felt so sleepy after your big holiday meal….bah, humbug!

It’s because you starved yourself for most of the day, and overly stressed your digestive system by craming a plate-full of turkey and dressing (not to mention seconds), various slices of cake and pie, and egg nog, all in one sitting. Don’t forget the random nibbling everytime you pass by the kitchen in the aftermath of your stuffing spree. It’s no wonder your stomach is tired. Therefore, when the old gut is tired, guess who’s next?

Just remember to keep your metabolism going by continuing to do what you do on a daily basis, eating small frequent meals. Once the festive meal is served, instead of doubling up on the stuffing and rolls, double up on the veggies, and let your source of lean protein (don’t forget to remove the skin and fat) be the basis of your meal.

Once you’ve finished eating, wait a couple of hours (typically, by the time the football game ends), grab a few family members and take a walk together, in order to burn off some of those unwanted calories. This is the perfect time to catch up, reflect, and reconnect. Isn’t that what the holidays are really about anyway?