Corsicana —
The holiday season is a joyful time of year to celebrate with friends and family. But with the celebrations come lots of party foods at holiday gatherings. If you’re trying to eat healthy, lose weight or maintain your weight, those holiday goodies can be awfully tempting.
Here are some simple strategies to avoid overeating and packing on the pounds. By planning ahead and sticking to your resolve, you can follow a healthy diet and still be part of the celebrations.
• Eat regularly. Holidays are busy, which can disrupt our healthy eating plan. Grabbing meals on the run while shopping or grazing the buffet at social events only encourages you to eat unhealthy or more than usual. If you must skip a meal or eat at an abnormal time, keep healthy snacks nearby, such as oatmeal, almonds, cereal, fruit or string cheese.
• Get your sleep. Lack of sleep contributes to weight gain and stress. Aim for at least 7 hours of shut eye in order to keep your stress and hormone levels in check.
• Prep yourself before the party. Don’t skip a meal or arrive at a party hungry. If you skip breakfast or lunch, you cannot save up those calories to consume later. However, skipping meals can make you cranky, tired and may even cause a headache. Plus, when you are hungry and surrounded by high-calorie foods, it’s easy to overeat. Always eat a light, healthy snack, preferably with high fiber, before leaving your house. Fiber helps you feel full, so you might not eat so much at the party. Choose foods like crunchy vegetables, a salad, a piece fruit, or a small bowl of oatmeal.
• Make smart choices at the buffet or dinner table. Being health conscious doesn’t mean that you can't enjoy the season and have a little bit of the foods you love.
• Rather than depriving yourself of a certain item, eat small amounts – say, two to three bites – of the foods you can’t resist. Try to just have one small cookie, or two chips with dip. Just make sure to fill the majority of your plate with healthy vegetables and fruits, whole grain crackers, cheese and lean meats.
• Eat slowly and chew each bite thoroughly. It takes a few minutes for your brain to realize your stomach is getting full. Put your fork down between bites and sip some water.
• Limit rich, sugary foods. They have a way of making you crave more of the same. If the craving hits you, try a piece of fruit or a small bit of dark chocolate. If that doesn’t help, simply take half of a serving of that chocolate or pecan pie you can’t resist.
• Those sneaky beverages. Avoid beverages high in sugar and calories, or at least limit your intake to a single drink. Also, alcohol adds extra unwanted calories and, if too much is consumed it lowers inhibitions and can lead to overeating. Try consuming water with a lemon or lime, or diet/sugar-free beverages. Or have a glass or two of water before you start drinking alcoholic beverages, and have one in between drinks, to slow your alcohol consumption.
• Remain active. Regular physical activity is even more important during the holiday season. Physical activity reduces stress – which usually comes with the holidays – and gives us more energy. If you know you will indulge a bit, increase your exercise time a bit every day. You'll burn off those holiday indulgences and avoid extra weight gain. Remember, if you increase your exercise, that splurge won’t ruin you.
• Drink lots of water. Adequate water intake keeps your metabolism humming along at a maximum rate and staves off hunger cravings as well. Mild dehydration can mimic hunger. The best way to avoid becoming dehydrated – and that hungry sensation and excess pounds – is to drink plenty of water.
It's difficult to avoid overeating during the holidays. If you do slip up, don't be too hard on yourself. Just exercise longer the next day and make sure your next meal or snack is a healthy one. By taking a few precautions, you can enjoy the holidays without overdoing it and gaining extra pounds.
Why not kick off 2013 by learning learn how to eat healthy year-round. To learn more healthy eating tips, visit NavarroHospital.com and click on “Health Resources.” Type “Strategies to Fight Holiday Weight Gain” in the search box.
———
Gail Stockman, M.D. is a board certified internal medicine physician. She is an employee of REAP d/b/a Medical Associates of Navarro County.
—————
Want to “Soundoff” on this story? Email: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com
Latest News
Related Photos
-
Dr. Gail Stockman of Navarro Regional offers smart tips on staying fit during the holidays.
Discussion
How to fight the holiday battle of the bathroom scale
- Latest News
-
-
City spraying for mosquitoes
The City of Corsicana and the Corsicana/Navarro County Health Department want to get the word out about a pesky warm weather creature — mosquitoes.
-
Linda Coleman devotes 27 years to Workforce
Imagine if you came the aid of a friend, someone who’d lost their job, their means of support, and you helped them find employment. How warm would the feeling of satisfaction be?
Now imagine that feeling times about 40,000 — and that’s how Linda Coleman must feel after 27 years of helping people find jobs at the Workforce Solutions, North Central Texas. -
Pioneer Days gets kids away from electronics, down to nitty-gritty
It’s the hands-on activities that bring kids back each year to enjoy Pioneer Days. Although their everyday lives are about stuff on screens — cell phones, television, video games — Pioneer Days is about getting their hands dirty, and sometimes climbing trees.
-
City grants tax abatements
The Corsicana City Council granted tax abatements to Guardian Industries and the proposed water park when the group met in regular session Tuesday. Both companies will be given 50 percent abatements for 10 years, and both are proposing sizable investments and the creation of dozens of new jobs.
-
Former Kerens VFD treasurer arrested for theft
The loss of $2,900 from the Kerens Volunteer Fire Department in May has led to the arrest of the group’s treasurer, Kaell Mullen.
Mullen has been charged with theft of more than $1,500 and less than $20,000 by a public servant, a third-degree felony. -
Workshops to be held to review restoration bids
There are three contractor proposals to consider for the proposed restoration of the Navarro County Courthouse, but a decision on the next step in the project is still likely a few weeks away.
Commissioners opened the proposals for the restoration project shortly after the 2 p.m. deadline Tuesday, along with proposals for asbestos abatement in conjunction with the project. -
Local Beat 6/19/13
A listing of meetings and events of interest from throughout Navarro County
-
Nominations underway for annual Daily Sun contest
It’s time to nominate your favorites for the annual “Best of the Best” contest sponsored by the Corsicana Daily Sun.
This year’s contest marks the 17th annual “Best of the Best” competition, a fun way to pay tribute to your favorites in a variety of categories of business, people and life in Navarro County. -
10 things to know for Tuesday, June 18
A daily look at things being talked about in the news around the world.
-
Help available in Corsicana for substance abuse
Penelope had been down a long, dark road ... a back injury at work led to a surgery. Even after her operation, she still had so much pain she was forced to take pain pills.
- More Latest News Headlines
-
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Obama: 'Lives Have Been Saved' by NSA Programs
Obama: Friction in Afghan Talks No Surprise
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
