Healthy Holidays

This morning as I was surfing around the web, checking my email and catching up on the Celebrity buzz, I couldn’t help but notice all the weight loss advertisements. Lose ten pounds in fifteen days, one boasts. Look like a Star, says another. Drink our miracle tea.

 Please! Like most women, I’ve always had to watch what I eat, when I eat and how I eat. Hmm…seems like a theme. But through the years I’ve learned what works for me. Fad dieting is just that, a fad. Not healthy most of the time and ineffective as well. And while some of these gimmicks might work for a while, bottom line is that once you stray, you gain weight again.

 Nobody said it would be easy.

 Now I have to put a disclaimer here. I’m not a physician or nutritionist. But I have been on plenty of diets. I’ve been up and down in my weight. But in the past few years I’ve maintained. I feel good. I may not be model skinny, but I’m healthy and happy. At this point in my life, that’s what counts.

 Here are a few observations to help get through the holidays ahead:

 Change the way you look at eating.

Look, you have to eat. So watch your portions. From all the different reports and research I’ve done, this is a universal truth. You can enjoy most any food as long as you watch the portion. Drink an 8 oz. glass of water before a meal. Eat slowly. It takes the brain twenty minutes to register that the stomach is full. Once you begin to feel full, push the plate away. Your body sends signals to tell you when you’re hungry and when you’re full. Learn to listen to those signals.

 Buy healthy foods.

Seems like this would make sense, but there’s been plenty of times I’ve been grocery shopping and picked up some decidedly unhealthy items. Never shop when you’re hungry. Go with a list. Leave your trouble foods in the store. (Mine are potato chips. Just give me a big bag, a glass of iced tea and a good book. Big trouble for me.) If you don’t bring your danger foods home, you won’t be tempted to sneak.

 Exercise.

You don’t have to go crazy, but doing something is good for your health. Maybe walking after dinner is all you can fit into your busy day, but it is better than nothing. My husband and I have gotten into the habit of walking our neighborhood a few times a week and it’s a special time for just the two of us. If you can, join a class at the YMCA or get a gym membership. Getting into a routine will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. And the more you exercise, your appetite decreases. I’d say that’s a great trade off.

 Be reasonable. Don’t starve yourself.

Again, watch the portions. But don’t deny yourself. Enjoy in moderation. C’mom, there’s only so much lettuce you can eat. And really, that’s why most diets fail. Boredom. As the old adage goes, variety is the spice of life.

 Be happy with who you are.

That’s the big one. You have to live with your body, be happy in the skin you’re in. So be healthy. Enjoy cooking. Spend time with family and friends. Look at life with optimism. You are worth it!

Diva Tara