The Cardiologist's Wife

Battle Of The Bulge – Holiday Health Tips

[ Post by Lisa Tedder ][ Post on November 20, 2012 ][ In Diet Tips and Better Eating Ideas ]

We’re getting ready for the big battle around here – The Battle of the Bulge.  November really kicks our festive food season in high gear with three birthdays in two weeks all clustered around Thanksgiving.  Then two weeks later, we host our annual sin filled event, The Cookie Party, where we encourage our friends to consume as many treats in two hours as they can.  There are other holiday parties and the Christmas feasts to contend with as well.  It can be hard to squeak through the holidays without picking up a few extra pounds.

 

But fear not, help is here!  Follow these suggestions and you may find you CAN keep flab at bay.  And dare I say it?  If you keep up your exercise routine or start one today, you might end the holiday season fitter than before it started.  So lets go fight the good fight for health and wellness!

 

1.  Exercise till you drop!  Don’t give up your exercise routine and let the holiday craze take over, hold the line to the last man.  Just keep thinking how good you’ll look at the New Year’s party in that tight little dress or how the babes will admire your biceps.  Get out and march every other day at least, throw in a few sit-ups, pushups and lunges in between addressing cards and watching Rudolph for the 30th time.

 

2.  There are parties galore with hordes of nibbles and drinks but don’t let the excess calories invade your mouth!  You really don’t have to eat everything in site, exercise some self control.  Get a very small plate and take no more than 5 hors d’oeuvres, less if dinner follows.  Have only 1 alcoholic drink, you’ll drive safer plus avoid those guerrilla calories waiting to ambush you.  Stake out a position far from the front line food table.

 

3.  Don’t be taken in by the enemies’ propaganda at this time of year, its a trap!  Starbucks is pushing delicious holiday coffees and posters of seasonal baked goods and treats loom in the store windows.  These ticking time bombs of sugar and fat hit the pocketbook and midline hard, so beware!  Eyes forward and stick to the list in hand.

 

4.  You can’t fight weight gain if you are dehydrated.  Drink plenty of water as you will actually retain fluid if you aren’t drinking enough.  You will also need plenty of water to stay mentally alert and energetic to get through the long days.

 

5.  Make every calorie count.  Give up the other junk you eat in favor of saving calories for the special foods you only eat this time of year.  Eat more vegetables and lean protein.  Don’t set out holiday candy; these are just more land mines on the road to better health.

 

6.  Sleep!  Proper rest is essential; you’ll be more alert to those sneaky calories and able to fight them off.  You’ll feel more energetic, productive and mentally tough.  Plus you’ll be nicer to be around.

 

7.  Finally, you can’t win a battle without a strategy.  You have two Christmas dinners to get through; your parents and hers.  Instead of filling your tank at both, plan to pick off your favorites at each and shoot down any seconds.

 

You can do this.  You can fight weight gain and win!  You can save your health from invasion so get to work.  Along the way, don’t forget to relax and enjoy your loved ones.  What is the point of the holidays after all?

 

 

 

 

Upadated on November 20, 2012