The holidays are definitely a special time of year. These days, however, many women wonder whether "special" means happy -- or stressful. Do you know anyone who doesn't feel more stress during the holiday season? One thing is for sure: Stress is a six-letter word that can spell added trouble for many women who struggle with food, eating and weight.
A national survey of women conducted earlier this year revealed that women see stress and lack of energy as two of their top health issues. But here's where it gets interesting: Women were twice as likely as men to snack as a way of dealing with stress!
So how do you enjoy the famous holiday party time that seems to start with coffee breaks at work or weekend brunches and last through dessert parties late in the evening without overdoing on all those wonderful foods? Here's a list of ideas to consider that can help reduce holiday stress, boost energy and maximize your ability to make smart choices to support you in your efforts to feel well and stay healthy.
Keep It Simple
The absolute first "must" for enjoying your holidays is to keep it simple. Be realistic in what you want to accomplish?and what you expect others to accomplish, too. Discuss holiday plans with family and friends. Consider paring down your "to do" list, and get a commitment from others to share in the extra holiday tasks that create extra fun for everyone.
Feed Yourself Well
A party later in the evening doesn't mean skimping on food during the day. All that will do is set you up for overeating because you get too hungry. Instead, eat regular, balanced meals and snacks that include grains/starchy vegetables, protein foods and fruits and/or vegetables every 3-5 hours when you are hungry, and stopping when you are satisfied.
Likewise, if you overdo it at one meal or party (and who doesn't on occasion?), don't try to "make up" for it at your next meals. Go back to your regular eating plan as described above.
Dance the Night Away!
Physical activity may provide the biggest boost to your ability to cope during the holidays. Not only is it a natural outlet for tension (and consequently another way to cope), physical activity boosts our energy level and our motivation to keep going.
Be creative! Break out of your mold by adding the opportunities of the holiday season, such as dancing, skating, sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, caroling (all that walking)?even trimming the tree (there's a lot of stretching there). Make fun physical activity the primary focus of your parties, instead of depending on the food to make or break it.
Realistically, many people find that physical activity early in the day is the best way to make it happen. A walk after breakfast is one of the best strategies for boosting energy and helping you feel well the rest of the day. Don't forget those walks around the shopping mall or the long brisk walk in from the parking lot count for something, too! (See FitBriefing Moving for Life - http://www.fitwoman.com/fitbriefings/moving.shtml).
Put on Parties that Work for You
This is where stress can send you straight for the Christmas cookies or Hanukkah chocolate. First, plan parties where you get help. How about just being responsible for the "centerpiece" dish, such as a main dish, beautiful salad or dessert, and let the supermarket, bakery, and/or deli do the rest. Or if you don't already have a pot luck tradition for family gatherings, now is the time to start!
What will be on the menu? A simple, healthy meal with some added festive touches will not only impress your guests, but it will truly be enjoyed by all - especially you! Many holiday menus start with roast turkey. Roasting a turkey or turkey breast is relatively simple, but most grocery and/or meat markets will roast it for you. Serve it with Brown Rice Pilaf or Wild Rice Pilaf (both recipes from the new edition of Green Mountain's cookbook Recipes for Living - http://www.fitwoman.com/recipes.htm). Add dried cherries or cranberries, chopped toasted pecans and chopped fresh parsley for a festive touch. A colorful tossed green salad could be as simple as a bag of mixed field greens with orange segments and red onion rings. Garnish with a slice of herbed chevre (goat cheese). Serve with Honey-Balsamic Vinaigrette (another Green Mountain favorite). Take advantage of the sweets and other treats of the season that your local bakery will surely be making; order a tray of assorted cookies, for example. Serve with a scoop of raspberry, lemon or tropical fruit sorbet in holiday dishes. Or if you want a real "wow" but simple dessert, try Marinated Strawberries in Phyllo cups.
Make Yourself a Priority
This is the bottom line for holidays that you really enjoy. Remember, if you take care of yourself first, then you're much better equipped to take care of everyone else. But women just don't tend to do that. A survey last month of 1000 women revealed that while almost all women would enjoy doing something for themselves like taking a walk or an aromatic bath, most spend less than 30 minutes a day nurturing themselves?and almost 10 hours a day caring for others! Clearly, we're out of balance here. Now there's a great gift - the gift of more time for you!
No More New Year's Resolutions to Lose Weight!
The staff at Green Mountain at Fox Run wishes you the happiest, healthiest holiday season ever. Our other wish for you is that you approach the New Year not with another resolution to take off pounds gained during the holiday season. Instead, we wish that you enjoy the season without thinking about body size, instead caring for yourself in a way that allows you to go through the season feeling vibrant and well. The truth is that most of us may put on a pound or two during the holidays when wonderful foods abound. But if we're tuned in to feeling well, and supporting our bodies with sensible enjoyable eating, regular physical activity, stress management and positive thinking, those extra pounds won't be permanent. With this lifestyle in place, we'll find our weight returns to its natural, healthy place once the abundance of the holidays subsides.
?2004 Green Mountain at Fox Run, Ludlow, Vermont.
Marsha J. Hudnall, MS, RD, CD is director of health communications and senior nutritionist at Green Mountain at Fox Run, an all-womens weight loss program. For over 32 years, Green Mountain at Fox Run has developed and refined a life-changing weight loss program through lifestyle change, exclusively for women. To learn more about Green Mountain at Fox Run, visit us at: weight loss program
Twin Lakes rental limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareA "normal-tummy" looks at the food pyramid from the bottom... Read More
For the past several years one subject has been coming... Read More
Most people who want to burn off some excess pounds... Read More
Every Journey Worth Taking Begins with a Single StepHere are... Read More
I had some questions come in about Ephedra. So I... Read More
Yoga is wonderful for nurturing a state of mental and... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
Okay, so you've read some of these articles, done your... Read More
Low self-esteem produces a game of control. It causes a... Read More
Maybe your doctor suggested it. Maybe your favorite outfit doesn't... Read More
Obesity is a disease that affects approximately 60 million people... Read More
The low carb diet craze has become extremely popular amongst... Read More
There's more to gastric bypass than surgery and rapid massive... Read More
Just because you're working hard, doesn't mean that you're working... Read More
Obesity, especially in children, is a matter of rapidly growing... Read More
Everyone who has ever been on a diet has hit... Read More
Although liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic... Read More
Make sure you check out the meaning of many common... Read More
I have tried many "diets" here in the USA and... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight, the holidays literally... Read More
Fat Loss Tip #4) Eat More ProteinYes, it's important to... Read More
What is the best form of physical activity?The best form... Read More
In 1994, I had a RNY surgery. At 350 lbs... Read More
Natural Weight Loss Is PermanentOnly natural weight loss can be... Read More
Living a powerful, healthy, fit and trim life is a... Read More
West Dundee Lincoln Stretch limo rentals ..Nothing is more disappointing than hearing a gastric bypass patient... Read More
Throughout my childhood and teenage years I watched as my... Read More
The story broke in the international press on October 4th,... Read More
It's the travel time, meaning hours spent sedentary. It prepares... Read More
Yes, you read it right?no diets!The first step in this... Read More
Are you gaining weight sitting in front of the computer?... Read More
REDUCE YOUR WEIGHTNow you are not very far from losing... Read More
It's the American Dream: "If I could just lose a... Read More
I had 14 weight/health-oriented newsletters in my inbox this morning.... Read More
Weight Loss Axiom Number ThreeInsulin and GlucagonThese are the two... Read More
Food cravings are crafty -- they appear from nowhere and... Read More
Experts say obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest health... Read More
Is Zone Diet a Fad?How do you recognize a fad... Read More
The cost of a tummy tuck is something to consider... Read More
Some people think that skipping breakfast will help them lose... Read More
"Polyols" or sugar alcohols are a number of different carbohydrates... Read More
Got milk? New research suggests you should if you want... Read More
Your brain has this really interesting system that is kind... Read More
I believe that water not only helps with weight loss,... Read More
What is "too young" to begin a weight loss program... Read More
America's Obesity EpidemicAs the numbers of overweight Americans continue to... Read More
Obesity is quickly becoming the number one health issue confronting... Read More
If you pick the right personal trainer?you'll most definitely see... Read More
Do you know this year Florida will go through a... Read More
I know, I know. What a crazy question!Considering that we've... Read More
Weight Loss |