'Tis the Season of...Gaining?

Let me start off by saying, I do not believe in diets. Although they give temporary results, they make life miserable really hard, especially around the winter months. Here are a few tips to staying fit while enjoying the holiday season!

1. AGUA!

Simple, but gold. Hydration is the key to breaking mindless munching. Many times our thirst is mistaken for hunger. Try chugging 8 ounces of fresh water before every meal or snack, to avoid overeating! Be sure to follow each alcoholic or sugary beverage with at least a few sips of water to combat dehydration. Staying hydrated is a lot easier than getting there!

Another symptom of dehydration is brain fog, which can impair our ability to make healthy decisions. Make sure you are giving yourself a fighting chance against temptations.

2. Carry Mints or Gum

Believe it or not, our stomachs are VERY easy to trick. If you have a troublesome sweet tooth, try gum or mints in between meals. The idea of eating a doughnut, or drinking that extra vodka soda, sounds less appetizing with the taste of mint in our mouths. Plus, the chewing action of gum can be extra helpful if you tend to eat when you’re bored.

3. Park in the Back of the Parking Lot

We’ve all heard this one before, but the thing is, it really works! I challenge you to download a step-counter on your phone. Record your average steps for a day of regular errands. The next day of errands, park in the back. Compare. The evidence will speak for itself.

Just a few more steps with every gift-hunt or grocery trip adds up quickly. This will dramatically increase our oxygen supply, and help our metabolism fight off the bread and sugar cookies.

4. Make an Easy Rule!

If you have a sudden craving for apple pie, or are contemplating that fifth slice of pizza, try a ten-minute rule. Set a timer and do two things: decide if the extra calories are really worth it and distract yourself until the timer goes off. 9 times out of 10, the craving disappears on its own! If the craving refuses to kick rocks, give the 3-bite rule a go. Or take it easy and use both rules every time. After all, it is the holidays!

5. Keep Nutrition in Mind!

I cannot stress this one enough. If you are only thinking of junk food as bad for your waistline, it will be undoubtedly hard to avoid it. The more we see food as fuel for our bodies and understand the damage junk food really does, the easier it becomes to manage our cravings. Sugar really is like a poison, and saturated fats do increase our stress levels. So keep that in mind next time you’re eyeing that second, or third, slice of cheesecake.

6. Please. Stop. Comparing.

We are all beautiful in our own way! I know this one sounds tacky, but it really helps when trying to stay fit. The minute we compare ourselves, we unleash an army of negative emotions onto the ego. This can drive us to binge eat or drink, as we become frustrated with our inability to change ourselves within an instant. Please be kind to yourself! It is great to have goals, but it is important to accept yourself first.

7. Take Vitamins (the gummy ones, of course)

It is important to give our body the proper nutrition in order to avoid cravings. Even mild nutritional deficiencies can trigger them. Usually, the body knows exactly what vitamins it needs and tries to communicate that as best it can. Maybe it's calcium you need, and not ice cream. So take a second and think about what your craving might be trying to tell you!

8. Stay Warm

As we slide into these chill, winter months, it becomes increasingly harder to stay warm. Food is to the body like wood is to fire, and the more we consume, the warmer we become. This is great for survival and all, but not when Spring break is just four months away. Forget the extra calories! Drinking hot tea or coffee, bundling up with extra layers, and staying active (no matter how light), are all great ways to keep your system fired up on its own!

9. Keep Track of Your Habits (in a way that works for YOU)

Logging a food diary can go one of two ways: it can keep us on track throughout the day, or fill us with shame after an impulsive cheat meal. There are many different ways to keep track. If you do well with numbers or positive self-talk, you might choose a reasonable calorie limit. Don't pressure yourself to be exact, and be sure to leave wiggle room. If you struggle with negative self-talk, skip the counting, and take pictures instead!

For both methods, I suggest recording a few days of normal eating to figure out which areas might need attention. Is breakfast too heavy in calories? Are your portions starting to look a little big? Maybe you've noticed a problem with late-night snacking? Whatever the case may be, it always helps to record and evaluate.

10. Plan Your Meals

While this can seem impossible around the holidays, I assure you, it can be easy. Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to be like the gym-junkies on social media, who have their healthy meals prepped for the entire week. In fact, don't even worry about prepping for the day! Instead, plan to the best of your ability, even if that’s just the next meal.

By at least planning the next meal, we avoid waiting until our stomachs are screaming in agony. Telling yourself no is a lot easier when you're not hangry.

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These are just some tips I have compiled over years of research and experience. Stay lovely, and Happy Holidays!