Five Keys to Keep Weight Down Over the Holidays
Posted on April 30, 2012 by Donna Huntington, One of Thousands of Health and Fitness Coaches on Noomii.
Learn 3 critical ways to beat temptation to eat over the holidays
How in the world do you do it? After all, this is the time of parties, cookies, and candy! And we are in a recession! We need something to comfort our stress!
Well it is true that you can comfort yourself with food. Enjoy it too! However, the aftermath of weight gain and guilt make it a short term comfort indeed, and this often leads to binging.
So what’s the secret? Assuming you are reasonable healthy or are aware of any health limitations, here’s five easy ways to offset weight gain, and maybe even lose a few!
1) Stop the condemnation. In all the twenty years I’ve been in the health & wellness industry, I have seen this as a huge issue for many people. The truth is, the more you condemn yourself for eating that treat, the greater the likelihood you will foster a defeatist attitude and give up. Then you make it your “New Years Resolution” to lose weight, and we know how long those tend to last.
Moreover, if you deny your self that delicious and oh so temping treat, you will subconsciously try to fill that void, and end up eating more in calories than if you had eaten the treat in the first place!
So how do you fix that? Instead of telling yourself, “I can’t have the cookie (or whatever you crave), you can say “it’s ok to have one or just a few.” Now you have broken the need to binge because you’ve given yourself an allowance.
2) Accountability. Whether you want to lose or maintain weight, there are websites that will help you keep track of your calories. It’s fast & easy – you key in some basic information about yourself and it will generate the total of the amount of calories you can consume. Many sites will even reward you with an allowance of extra calories for the day if you exercise.
Another option is to find a friend, or friends, and hold each other accountable to what you eat.
Whichever you choose, remember if you rein in your consumption throughout the day, you may find that you have enough calories left over for that ice cream! No more self deprivation! Remember, be well, not perfect!
3) Become more physically active. Did I say “workout?” No! That word scares alot of people because they think they cannot fit a workout routine into their already busy schedule. They may retort with “Where will I find the time? I hate exercise! I’m already stressed with everything else I have to do!”
Ok, you don’t have time, or you don’t like to go to the gym. The answer is simple: just climb the steps rather than take the elevator, park further away from the door to encourage yourself to walk, find a friend to walk with you on a regular basis at the mall while you shop, or just take a stroll. Or clean the house! It’s surprising how many more calories you can allow yourself if you do just a bit more.
4) Set goals! Remember to set goals that you know you can master. Otherwise, if you fail, it is much harder to get back up again, if at all. Start realistically, and celebrate your accomplishments (not necessarily with food!) Slowly see your successes, journal them (look back at them when you feel discouraged) and this in itself will motivate you to continue.
Remember too, to identify root issues and triggers to your eating patterns. Stress is often the culprit. Learn to change your thinking patterns for the positive, which leads to the next point.
5) Tap into a higher power. In many cases it’s really true that we can’t control ourselves. Let’s face it; “Will Power” only last so long, and we all have our little vices (I’m talking for example, sweets or chips). But there is a higher power that we can tap into, a loving power, a power that is FOR us not AGAINST us that can help us control ourselves. This is the secret of many who participate in programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. They acknowledge their weaknesses, and tap into that higher power. Whether that is prayer or meditation, focusing on this power of will help you win. It’s a moment by moment prayer. Not just a diet – a lifestyle if you will.
You’re worth it. You can win my friend.
For a free coaching consultation, visit my website www.donnayourcoach.com.
Also, I’m interested in hearing your challenges. Please email your topic suggestion for consideration to donnayourcoach@gmail.com for the next article.
Donna Huntington is a professional life coach and has been in the Health & Wellness industry for over 20 years. She helps people excel in reaching their goals in the area of health & wellness, deal successfully with weight management, stress management & anxiety, self image, lack of motivation, conquering the blues, and life’s tough transitions. She is also a licensed clinical social worker, and certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
