By Samantha Taylor
Samantha Taylor Fitness
I know it’s been a tough year and many have put on over 15 lbs. with the stress of it, so I encourage you to not keep that pattern going. I do love the feel of the holidays, but we all know along with them come lots of savory foods that we don’t always have access to, so our mind tends to justify eating them in excess.
The problem is, it’s not just one meal, it’s a lot of different meals and desserts that people seem to always bring out during the holidays, especially in the workplace.
I decided years ago that I was not going to let myself use the holidays as an excuse to gorge and gain the average 5 lbs. Personally, my biggest challenge used to be with sugar, and during this last month of the year, there are temptations everywhere.
Also keep in mind that eating too much sugar can highly affect your immune system and with everything going on, we need to have as strong of an immune system as possible! Here are 5 main tips to help you enjoy this month without expanding your waistline:
1) You have a mind, will, and intellect that can decide NOT to partake in every little fancy food that makes its way across your path. Just because it’s there, doesn’t mean you have to eat it.
You can make wise decisions and not just act on impulse. This does take practice, that’s for sure!
2) Have balance – enjoy some foods and sometimes say, “Not this time.” This can cut down on 50% of the calories you would normally consume in this month.
3) Make sure you exercise at least 4 times a week. With the extra holiday foods, if you exercise, you at least lower your chance of gaining. Of course, if you have weight to lose, losing a few pounds this month is a better goal, however it’s a great accomplishment to not gain weight this month, too.
4) When going to a get together where you are eating, fill up first on protein, fat, veggies, and nuts to resist eating as much of the starchy carbohydrate or sugar-filled foods.
5) Fill up on a glass of water or snack on some nuts or salad before you go to a party or dinner.
That way you aren’t starving when you get there. We can tend to make worse choices when we are starving. I have learned not to put myself in that situation.
Eating healthy can be very satisfying when you know how to eat. Get some delicious sugarfree Christmas cookie recipes and desserts on our website at SamanthaTaylorFitness.com/dessertwebinars.
Also be thinking about the new year and keep us in mind to help you get healthy and fit. We are in Palm Harbor, Carrollwood, Wesley Chapel, and Land O’ Lakes.
I hope you have a Merry Christmas! This is the time of year, many people will go to church if you invite them, so think of someone you could invite to church. Christmas is certainly a time to connect with family and friends and many celebrate the birth of Christ. There is a great Christmas presentation at Idlewild Baptist church Dec 10-12th.
Perhaps strengthen your relationship with Him by reading the Bible 10 minutes a day to build that habit this month, it’s such an amazing book filled with wisdom. If you don’t know Him or have been distant from Him, perhaps pray and ask Him into your life. Maybe that’s why you saw this article. : )
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