CONTRACT 9 - CONQUER YOUR DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

HOLIDAY WAISTLINE TACTICS

The holidays are just around the corner.  Here are some tips to spare you that five to ten pound weight gain that so often happens as a result of holiday parties, baking, and hectic schedules. 

Office parties:

It's tempting to take a bite of everything your co-workers bring in.  Plan ahead of time what you will eat at parties and special events, and stick to your plan.  Try these tips:

• Try a different holiday party this year and ask others to bring in nutritious, lower-calorie foods.  If others don't buy into this new concept, then you can prepare one of your favorite nutritious foods, so there will be at least one item for your main dish.
• Walk through the buffet line and plan what you will select as your main dish and what you would like to sample.  What dessert will you select?  Will you select one item or samples of several?
• Remember that portion sizes count.  If you want to sample the many interesting dishes, take one spoonful.
• Sugary punches are not low in calories, so bring a bottle of water or diet soda for your beverage.
• You an always balance what you eat with exercise.  During this hectic time, exercise also helps to reduce any holiday stress you may be experiencing.

Cocktail parties:

Socializing with friends, mingling, and having an overall great time are what parties are all about.  Appetizers and drinks are the 'menu' for these events.  So what can you do to help push yourself away from the food?

• Eat before you arrive.  A growling stomach makes it extremely difficult to avoid the buffet table.
• Take your mind off the food and mingle with friends before you mingle with the food. 
• Select fresh vegetables and a dollop of dip.  Fresh vegetables contain that extra crunch and take longer to eat than other foods.
• Shrimp and scallops with cocktail sauce are lower-calorie choices.
• Take your time to eat.  Focus on conversation rather than food.
• Alcohol does contain calories, so limit the amount of alcohol and increase the proportion of water or diet soda.
• Visit the buffet table once, and hold your conversations away from the table so you are not tempted to nibble.

Planning For a Hectic Time:

• For most people this is a hectic time.  Plan to include healthful convenience products in your diet.  Purchase an assortment of individual meals that can be heated during busy times.
• Keep candies and baked goods out of sight.  "Out of sight, out of mind' is how the old phrase goes, and it works.
• If friends give you baked goods as gifts, freeze a portion so you can eat at a later time, perhaps after the holidays.
• And last but not least, reduce your holiday stress and increase your metabolism by including a 30-minute walk sometime throughout your day.