Marypause50 ~10 years later still a blog about gardens, simplicity, friendships, gratitude, health,

Be Prepared for the Holidays... How Not to Gain & Go with the Flow!

   The first of the holiday season celebrations is almost upon us - Thanksgiving. A favorite holiday for most, I mean parades, football, family time uninterrupted by the opening of gifts and of course ... the best meal of the year! So how do we make it through an almost steady six weeks of celebrations without gaining weight or dare I say continuing to lose weight for those on that path right now? Read on!

   I finished reading Bob Harper's (of Biggest Loser fame) latest book Skinny Habits. I'm telling you great minds think alike. He proposes an If/Then strategy to parties and the like while I was promoting to friends  a flow chart strategy with the same idea - you gotta go into this prepared! It will be the key to your success! Here are examples of how having situations written down in advance can help. You can then call upon them when that party or special dinner or cookie exchange happens.
Example One ~ If I am invited out for Thanksgiving this year, then I will go prepared! (top of the flow chart) Next Block: I will drink loooots of water in the morning with my healthy breakfast and all day long. Next Block: I will bring a dish I know is delicious and a healthy, lower calorie alternative to what I might find there (turkey is great but there are many unknowns). Next Block: I will eat all my favorite foods but small portions of each and will avoid the rolls, mashed potatoes & liquid calories! Next Block: I will have a sliver of a dessert only if it's a once a year favorite and feel thankful that I don't feel like a stuffed turkey by 7pm!!
Example Two ~ Top of the flow chart: The neighborhood is having their annual cookie exchange again on Saturday night. Next block: Cookies are not dinner! I will eat a healthy, full of veggies and fiber dinner and drink lots of water before I go. Next Block: I will sample one or two new cookies that evening, have tea or coffee & bring the rest of the cookies home. Next Block: I will have cookie tins/containers ready to pack the exchanged cookies tight as a drum, tape the sides & put in a cool, dry closet - out of sight. After all the point of this is to have a variety of cookies for guests during the holidays.
   So you see where I am going with this. You can do one for each situation. We will splurge here & there but to consistently overindulge will leave you feeling awful and unhappy with yourself. I highly recommend Bob Harper's book. It covers the 6 secrets of thin people & is very easy to read. So start writing your if/then flow charts up today! Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble Gobble (well less gobbling and more savoring every bite!)