9 Tips To Help You Survive Holiday Party Overeating

Parties are opportunities to be social and have fun! Just be careful not to let the food at the party distract you from talking with friends and family. Even if the tables are laden with your favorites, with a little forethought and preparation, you can make healthy food choices that won’t derail your good eating habits.

1. Don’t arrive hungry. Hunger can make it difficult to make good food choices -- everything looks delicious when you’re starving. Eat a small meal and drink some water to take the edge off your hunger before arriving at the party
   
   
2. Take a walk around to see what food is available -- before you pick up a plate. Take note of the healthy selections.
   
   
3. Fill 3/4 of your plate with fruits and vegetables. Then choose a few other items to round out your meal, like lean protein options.
   
   
4. Limit yourself to one trip to the serving table. If you're still hungry, go for the healthy produce options.
   
   
5. Cut down on portion sizes to allow yourself a bite or two of your favorites. Use a smaller plate and serve your food with a teaspoon instead of a large serving spoon.
   
   
6. Reduce your alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol lowers your inhibitions, making you more likely to make poor food choices. Enjoy a drink, but alternate with a glass of mineral water or a iced tea.
   
   
7. Watch out for appetizers. A handful of cheese and crackers can set you back hundreds of calories while a single chicken wing contains about 200 calories but hardly puts a dent in your hunger. Select one or two pieces of cheese to savor and save your calories for a full piece of baked chicken instead.
   
   
8. If you want to have an appetizer, select something nutrient-rich, like bruschetta with fresh tomatoes or shrimp in cocktail sauce.
   
   
9. Enjoy desserts in small portions. It’s the first three or four bites that taste the best, so take a small portion of your favorite and savor each bite.

Break Over. Back To The Plan.

Okay. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you have not been getting up at 5:30am for the last week to work out.
That's fine. It is always nice to have a little break. But the holiday is done and it is time to get back on track (if you got off track) and get back to working out (if you stopped). I for one have been daunted by the 20 degree weather at 5:30 am the last two days so I've busted out my old school workout videos. They are good, but I have to say I'm a little disappointed with how easy they have gotten. Tomorrow, the plan is to bundle it up and head out for a good run/walk. You know, run one mile, walk one mile. Second mile I'll bring my weights and do 50 bicep curls, 50 tricep dips and 50 shoulder presses. But that's me. If you think you may want to put the weights down at some point during the walk (which I don't recommend because you'll have to go fetch them or buy more weights) then skip the weight work until after the 2nd mile.
I really hope that y'all are watching what's going into your mouths as well. I personally have decided to eat dessert first (so that the carbohydrates are eaten earlier in the day) so I have more time to burn it off! AND PLEASE make sure that you are drinking enough water. Just because you aren't up at 5 sweating it out with us, your body still needs that water!

What's Your Gladiator Name?

This morning at accelerated camp SW somewhere after the delirium that sets in after doing running drills, super sets and "Ring of Fire" I mentioned that American Gladiators is returning to TV. Why is this significant? Well besides being part of my childhood, many of the gladiators are figure competitors like Amy O. and Stephanie McD. Not only is the show hosted by my friend Murph's favorite, Hulk Hogan, co-hosting is Laila Ali, who is one of my personal heroes.
As far as the show goes, they say that they are currently casting weekend warriors but what does it really take to be a gladiator? Well, in my case it will take a lot more upper body strength I think that I could do some damage in the joust but the wall. It scares me. Which means I'm going to have to find some sort of climbing wall/obstacle to tackle to get over it.
Speaking of television.
I've been watching The Biggest Loser as I type this article. It is just amazing to me the incredible weight loss they have accomplished. They did however mention a staggering statistic that 90% of people that lose weight regain it. I know this first hand because the first time I lost the weight (back in the day when I was living in Boston) I gained it back because I hadn't figured out the reason behind my overeating in the first place and I had no maintenance plan, I didn't have a plan beyond "Lose the Weight".
As we move forward to new goals and resolutions I suggest that you plan your strategy not only for getting through the holidays but beyond. Figure out a way to get regular exercise and continue to eat healthily.

Candy Rage : The Fight Against Chocolate Covered Whoosits.

It's that time. Well technically, it has been that time. Halloween candy has been in the grocery stores for the last two months. Starbucks and every other coffee place in town has rolled out their 'Pumpkin Spice' flavored beverages. But what do you do when you are supposed to watch your calories, sugar intake, blah blah blah, cut back on sweets?

Seems like everywhere you go is littered with snack size, chocolate covered whatnots. How do you keep your hands from finding their way into the candy bowls and stay on track?

Reasons to say no to sweets:
You will live longer.
You will feel better.
Cutting back on sweets will help you reach your weight loss goals faster.

Take a look at how much you can lose if you just cut out soda!

1 bottle of Cola (20oz, regular, not diet) has 239 calories.

Let's say you have just one bottle of cola a day, every day.

7 x 239 calories = 1673

Since there are 3500 calories in a pound, without doing anything else you could lose about a half a pound a week JUST by leaving out the soda.

Here's are some tips to get you through Halloween:

Halloween
This used to be the most difficult holiday for me. Tiny little candies everywhere!

In a full size Snickers Bar there are 280 calories-- approximately 6 Snickers miniatures. Keep in mind --just because they are small does not mean you can eat more of them!

1. If you do not have the willpower to leave the candy alone, do not buy it. Donate the candy money to charity.
   
2. If your house is in danger of being egged if you go candyless, buy the candy that you don't like so you won't be tempted.
3. Wait till the last possible moment to buy candy. This will leave you with as little time alone with the candy as possible.
4. Keep the candy bowl by the door, do not go near the door/bowl of candy unless your house is in fact being egged or trick-or-treaters come by.
5. Put the candy in an adult-proof box or "Boo for you" box. Take a small box and cut a hole in it that is small enough for a child's hand but not your own. Decorate the box with a Halloween-y theme. Pour the candy inside. If a trick-or-treater's hand doesn't fit, shake the box directly over their bag. "But wait", you ask, "Stephanie what will stop me from shaking the box to get the candy out?" Nothing really, but hopefully having to try to maneuver a 'fun size' candy snack out of the boo box will slow you down, maybe even to the point that you will realize how not worth it it is.
6. Put the candy bowl on the porch and let the Trick-or-Treaters have at it. Of course with this you lose the benefit of the "The doorbell is ringing I better get up" workout. Oh and greedy kids will take too much candy.

Remember your goals. Yes, you could eat the candy but does it lead you where you want to go? Is it a distraction? Is candy as important as reaching your goals? No. Be strong and enjoy the many other things the holiday has to offer.