| The holidays are upon and so is the urge to | | | | #3 "This dish reminds me so much of home" |
| overeat. While a few nibbles on grandma's triple | | | | sentimental overeating |
| chocolate truffles and aunt Glinda's red velvet | | | | It's not the food that reminds you of home but |
| cake might seem innocent enough, according to | | | | the people with whom you enjoy the food that |
| "Consumer Reports on Health" that's exactly how | | | | reminds you of home. Food is so wonderful and |
| most people pack on their annual weight gain- | | | | powerful because we associate people with the |
| overindulging during the holiday seasons. | | | | food. Instead of remembering your family by |
| Most reasons for overeating during the holidays | | | | eating, try to recall some of the other activities |
| are purely psychological. You could easily avoid | | | | that your family enjoys doing together such as |
| overeating if you knew the dieting mind games | | | | shoveling snow, ice skating or making Christmas |
| and the mental tools needed to combat them. To | | | | ornaments. |
| help you stay on track during the holidays, use | | | | #4 I'll make it up at the gym |
| these tips to defeat the five most common | | | | Exchanging pecan pie for 30-minutes at the gym |
| dieting mind games before they kick-off the | | | | makes the gym seem like something "bad". |
| holiday seasons. | | | | Instead decide what sport or activity you want to |
| #1. Beating the "feel good" factor | | | | engage in this winter: hiking, walking, ice skating, |
| People overeat during the holidays because it | | | | swimming, golfing etc. Exercise because you want |
| makes them "feel good". Chocolate and sugary | | | | to, not because you have to. (Note: Really, have |
| foods load the body with serotonin- the feel good | | | | you seen how empty gyms are during the |
| hormone. Instead of eating sweets to feel good, | | | | holidays?) |
| try talking with a visiting relative and joking. Plus, | | | | #5 It's no big deal, it's just once a year |
| give out lots of hugs; this will also boost your | | | | While people may only gain around one pound |
| body's level of "feel good" hormones. | | | | during the holidays, if you've been gaining an extra |
| #2. "It's the only time this year I'll get to eat this | | | | pound for last 10-20 years this adds up. While |
| food" | | | | overeating this year may seem OK, if you keep |
| The "holiday food shortage" mentality spurs | | | | doing it, you'll consistently gain more and more |
| overeating. There is never a shortage of holiday | | | | weight. |
| food. When you get the urge to overindulge in a | | | | In short, the easiest way to keep your body |
| particular food, get the recipe and make the dish | | | | weight on track this holiday season is to focus |
| yourself. | | | | less on food and more on the people that you |
| If a dish proves irresistible, eat a portion and still | | | | love. Now, just remember, before you down that |
| get the recipe. That way, psychologically you'll | | | | how jug of spiked eggnog, ask yourself, "Do I |
| know that if you ever want to eat this dish again, | | | | need to go hug somebody first?" Happy Holidays. |
| you can. | | | | |