 |
|
 |
Holiday Survival Guide: Eating Healthy Amid The Festivities |
By:
Carole S. Guinane |
|
|
|
|
|
<%''a href="http://www.makepeoplebuy.com/internetlegends/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">
|
Log in to use the QuickCopy tool.
You can copy this article fast!
|
|
As exciting as the holiday season is, there are many factors that can cause stress for those hoping to lose weight or maintain healthy eating habits. As a LAP-BAND patient, you need to practice the same healthy eating during the holiday season that you’ve included in your daily routine. However, you don’t need to deprive yourself during this special time of year. Instead, you should make a focused plan and take steps to avoid dangerous overeating during the festivities. Here is a handy survival guide to help you navigate the holidays in a healthy way and stay on track with your weight loss goals.
Eat healthy before the party begins
As many holiday events include large amounts of food, you should prepare yourself to be amongst a buffet atmosphere before leaving home. If you know the party or gathering you will be attending will feature plenty of unhealthy food, try to eat a healthy meal beforehand to help curb your appetite. Most importantly, don’t starve yourself in anticipation of holiday meals. Filling up on holiday treats can not only distract you from your weight loss goals, but leave behind some serious discomfort.
Control your portions
At parties and family gatherings, food is often present in buffet form. Hence, during such events, you should try to use a smaller plate and allow yourself only a single trip to the food table. Regardless of what is being served, try to eat as you would at home and remain committed to your personal portion sizes.
It’s also good to eat as slowly as possible so that your body registers the food and the subsequent satisfaction that comes with it. Some people ever recall a time they overate and felt poorly afterwards in an attempt to curb the temptation to eat beyond what you need.
Find healthy recipes
If you will be cooking for yourself or others, try to locate some healthy recipes for your favorite holiday dishes. Try to avoid cooking with fatty products such as butter and heavy cream. If you have a favorite recipe that incorporates meat or vegetables fried in oil, consider baking the dish or altering the recipe to incorporate fresh ingredients. If you are still having trouble uncovering alternative recipes, consult the support staff at your outpatient bariatric center for healthy suggestions.
Be careful with alcohol
As many of the holiday season’s favorite alcoholic drinks are loaded with empty calories, try to keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. If you want to enjoy an alcoholic drink, sip on a single glass of red wine. During parties, you should also try to drink plenty of water. If you want to fit in with those around you, drink your water in a cocktail glass, garnish it like your favorite libation and savor your little secret.
Spend your time with family and friends – not food
One activity to avoid during the holiday season is socializing near a buffet table or any type of communal food. When talking with friends and family in front of such culinary displays, it is often second nature to snack while you socialize. Instead, after you have had your modest fill, spend your time away from the food and focus on having a good time with your loved ones. Above all, try to remember that the holidays are a time to spend with family and while food is often part of the celebration, it shouldn’t be the focal point.
Enjoy your favorite holiday treats – in moderation
Though the guidelines mentioned here might seem stringent, you should still try to experience your favorite treats during the holiday season. Just because LAP-BAND patients are required to practice moderation everyday, it doesn’t mean that particular foods need to be avoided altogether. It is OK to have a few bites of pumpkin pie or cheesecake, or even enjoy a small serving of eggnog. However, to prevent yourself from overdoing it, you should try to use small cups and plates or simply share your treats with friends. Remember that the first few bites really do taste the best, so let all those extra calories head towards your friend’s thighs not yours.
As you try to balance your healthy lifestyle with the excess of the holidays, try to be assertive and maintain your eating habits as best you can. Remember that you don’t need to accept every treat that is offered to you; if you politely decline large servings of troublesome foods, your family and friends will be understanding and supportive. Consider your healthy lifestyle and the long term opportunities offered by the LAP-BAND to be a gift to yourself and ring in the New Year – healthy and happy.
About the author
Carole S. Guinane, a Chief Clinical Officer writes articles about obesity and weight loss for New Hope Today (http://www.newhopetoday.com).
Article Source: Free Article Directory - http://www.articleManiac.com Search And Submit Articles
Log in to use the QuickCopy tool. You can copy this article fast!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Phrase |
# Count |
% Density (approx) |
try to
| 12
| 1.45
| try
| 12
| 1.45
| healthy
| 12
| 1.45
| holiday
| 11
| 1.33
| food
| 9
| 1.09
| favorite
| 6
| 0.73
| time
| 6
| 0.73
| the holiday
| 5
| 0.61
| family
| 5
| 0.61
| eat
| 5
| 0.61
| the holiday season
| 4
| 0.48
| your favorite
| 4
| 0.48
| to eat
| 4
| 0.48
| holiday season
| 4
| 0.48
| friends
| 4
| 0.48
| during the holiday season
| 3
| 0.36
| the holidays
| 3
| 0.36
| to avoid
| 3
| 0.36
| remember that
| 3
| 0.36
| family and
| 3
| 0.36
| the holiday season is
| 2
| 0.24
| your weight loss goals
| 2
| 0.24
| holiday season is
| 2
| 0.24
| try to eat
| 2
| 0.24
| weight loss goals
| 2
| 0.24
| your favorite holiday
| 2
| 0.24
| your healthy lifestyle
| 2
| 0.24
| family and friends
| 2
| 0.24
| eating habits as
| 2
| 0.24
| spend your time
| 2
| 0.24
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
One major reason that people do not gain muscle mass in because of an insufficient diet. Weight training only provides a stimulus for your muscles to start growing. It is when you go home and recover after the exercise that you start to add...
(read entire article)
Added : Monday, April 2nd, 2007 Viewed : 131 Times | |
|
|
After you read this short article, you will have leaned some quick tips to start gaining healthy weight. Here's 6 simple ways on how to gain weight without getting fat.
(read entire article)
Added : Wednesday, November 1st, 2006 Viewed : 68 Times | |
|
|
A commonly held belief about food is that you need to eat frequent meals to keep your metabolism going and to keep burning calories. I'm not exactly sure where this idea came from but it makes absolutely no sense to me. In fact, to me it sounds like
(read entire article)
Added : Friday, August 29th, 2008 Viewed : 17 Times | |
|
|
When do you want to see clients?
When do you want to return phone calls?
What do you want to do in your business that’s not so structured and when? Setting up your "time zones" is very important for someone with ADD.
But when think...
(read entire article)
Added : Tuesday, November 28th, 2006 Viewed : 86 Times | |
|
|
1. Should eat all 5 groups of nutrient; Carbohydrates, Lipid, Protein, Vegetable and Fruit.
2. Should eat more and more of vegetable, should not eat sweet fruit.
3. Should not eat all kind of sweet and dessert, ice cream, and chocolat...
(read entire article)
Added : Saturday, May 5th, 2007 Viewed : 36 Times | |
|
|
The holidays can be murder for your physique. Discover 10 sure-fire and simple strategies to keep your body tight over the holidays while still enjoying yourself and your family. These work for X-mas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and every other holiday w
(read entire article)
Added : Sunday, October 19th, 2008 Viewed : 18 Times | |
|
|
Why eating more can help you lose weight and not feel your starving yourself to lose weight
(read entire article)
Added : Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 Viewed : 12 Times | |
|
|
More than deadlines to meet and clients to satisfy, the pressure to look good is far more intense these days. Women strive for that after hourglass figure and men need to be Greek Gods. It is no wonder that every other person on the street ...
(read entire article)
Added : Saturday, September 8th, 2007 Viewed : 87 Times | |
|
|
I was sitting with my daughter reading her the “101 Dalmatians” and I couldn’t help but think about how my life has changed from when I was my former heavy self.
And, not from the perspective of having kids or anything that was new in my...
(read entire article)
Added : Thursday, December 13th, 2007 Viewed : 38 Times | |
|
|
Some of the more elderly members of the family will feel better about the aging process if someone takes responsibility for setting guidelines on Family Elder Care issues. Many families do not want to think about their parents getting old a...
(read entire article)
Added : Thursday, July 19th, 2007 Viewed : 26 Times | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Official Member Gear | Links
