IF YOU'RE like me, you start to get nervous around Thanksgiving, thinking about mom's mac and cheese and sweet potato pie, and the unwanted extra pounds they could bring.
This year, however, I have discovered 12 sure-fire survival secrets to help you make it through Turkey Day without gaining an ounce. Follow these recommendations and you'll look amazing in your old tux or that little black dress come New Year's Eve.
1. Create a plan.
The holidays can challenge even the most dedicated among us. Family feasts and even friendly get-togethers have the potential to dismantle all your hard work. So make a plan for yourself.
For example, I always get up early and get in a good workout before going to a family dinner. During the day, I eat plenty of high-fiber fruits and veggies, so I won't be tempted by the cheese tray, nut mixes and gourmet candy when I arrive at a party.
2. Food overload.
We celebrate holidays with food. In fact, eating is a major highlight of our holiday celebrations, and every family has its traditional dishes and lush desserts.
Fear not, you can have your cake and eat it, too, if you budget your calories and exercise portion control. Go ahead and enjoy the holiday fare; just eat half to a quarter of what you would normally eat.
Eat your dinner on a salad plate. Your plate will look full, which will fool your eyes, and the smaller portions will leave your stomach satisfied, not stuffed. The larger the plate, the more we tend to pack it on.
Also, remember it takes 20 minutes for the hypothalamus (the region of the brain that controls hunger) to register to the brain that you are full.
3. Beware of beverages.
Alcohol is a double whammy: it's filled with empty calories, and it increases your appetite. A typical margarita is about 350 calories - more calories than three four-ounce glasses of red wine, and you don't get the antioxidants either.
Drinking alcohol is a big part of the holiday season, but do remember to drink responsibly for both your health and your waistline. Empty calories from alcohol add up quickly, and weekend celebrations can easily inch the scale up two to three pounds a week.
4. Use long, tall
glasses.
Beware of non-alcoholic beverages, too. Serve them in tall, narrow glasses instead of big, fat tumblers. Guess what? The larger the glass the more we drink.
You can easily save hundreds of extra calories from sodas, juices and other holiday specialty drinks with this clever trick.
5. Stay hydrated.
During the winter, it's important to stay properly hydrated. With all of the rushing around, people forget to drink plenty of water. Every cell in your body needs water. When you are properly hydrated you eat less, too. Instead of beer, bring a case of Smart Water to the party.
6. Skip the dough.
If you're going to indulge in a little decadence, don't bother with everyday items like bread. Save a whopping 300 to 400 calories by just skipping the dinner rolls with butter.
7. Get physical.
Maintain your workouts throughout the holiday season. You'll feel refreshed and less stressed, too. Besides, the more you stick with your routine, the less likely you'll be to fall completely off the wagon and have major pounds to lose in the new year.
Go to the gym even if you only have a half-hour. You can do a 30-minute circuit routine, weight-train one body part or do a kick-butt 30 minute cardio interval program. The key is to get there.
8. Fill up on fiber.
Do enjoy the cornucopia of fruits and vegetables available during the holiday season. Plant-based foods are full of fiber that will swell in your stomach and curb your ravenous appetite.
9. Keep healthy food handy.
Volunteer to bring a tray of vegetable crudites or a fruit salad to the holiday party. You'll help yourself and everyone else focus on healthy eating.
10. Wear it well.
Wear your favorite fitted outfit (make sure it has a zipper or buttons) to the party. It will instantly remind you when you've had enough. Wear elastic-waist pants and a huge sweater, and you may eat 40 to 50 percent more.
11. Fuel up first.
Many people skip breakfast and lunch, thinking they will save up the calories for the long-awaited family dinner. This is a bad strategy that will likely have you bingeing by the end of the day.
Instead, eat a nice, high-fiber meal before you get there, and keep your car stocked with power snacks like raw nuts or dried fruit in the event you get hungry on the way.
12. Focus on the family.
Instead of snuggling up to that bowl of macaroni and cheese, grab your nephew and give him a hug. After all, holidays are about family and nurturing relationships more than cookies and cakes.