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!)
