Thanksgiving 2009 is now officially behind us but the season of the Holiday Party is just around the corner. Starting next weekend, friends will be hitting ’send’ on the evite, putting out their best holiday decor and preparing their menus. I’ve got at least four parties on the calendar already (which reminds me – I need to secure some babysitters!).
Over the years, I’ve come to really enjoy this time of the year. It is a great time for catching up with friends who we see only once or twice a year due to really busy work/family lives. The challenge, though, is avoiding the temptation to over-indulge in all of the holiday treats…which typically turns into panic and a mad dash to the gym in January to repair the damage.
Here are a few tips for avoiding this trap:
Don’t skip workouts. With the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, it’s easy to skip workouts. I try to keep my workouts a priority during this time of the year since I know I will be consuming extra calories. It is much easier for me to burn the extra calories instead of avoiding the cocktails or chocolate chip pie!
Don’t show up to the party hungry. Turning down good food at a party when you are hungry is like expecting a 2 year old to be quiet during an entire church service – it’s just not going to happen. Eating a healthy snack (carrot sticks and a small handful of almonds or a small salad w/ baked salmon) just before heading to a party will help you keep your defenses up.
Have a plan. I try to pick and choose my calories to avoid eating too much of everything. At one party I may choose to have a couple of cocktails and avoid the desserts, while at another party I may enjoy the desserts and have just one glass of red wine. I recommend making this decision prior to heading to the party as you may want to also alter your food choices for the rest of the day (if you plan to eat dessert at the party, you may want to avoid sugary foods for breakfast and lunch that day).
Bring your own food. While I almost never do this, I do think it can be helpful if you are really serious about your diet plan and want to avoid getting off track even a little bit. I’m warning you now, you will likely get some strange looks from your friends but don’t let that stop you – your focus will pay off in the long run!
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