Published on December 8, 2010
Updated on February 13, 2018
Let’s face it – many people use the traditional Thanksgiving feast as a kick-off to a holiday eating frenzy that lasts through to the New Year – tipping the scales in the direction of unhealthy weight gain. The good news is that the “Holiday 10” is an urban myth. In reality, most Americans actually gain around a pound. The bad news is that studies show the weight gained over the winter holiday isn’t lost during the rest of the year. Over time, this yearly “pound creep” can have a devastating impact on your health, as weight gain can increase your risk of a number of chronic diseases including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
Keep in mind that it’s much easier to prevent weight gain than to get the pounds off after the fact. Here is my best advice for enjoying the holidays without wrecking your waistline and your health.
1. Stay away from foods that rev up your appetite A.K.A. “The Great White Hazards” – white flour products, white rice, and white potatoes. Holidays are already a dietary pitfall for most – these foods add insult to injury. Choose whole grains and beans as the alternative to starchy white stuff. Whole grains and beans are super healthy and provide long-lasting appetite suppression. Try:
2. Minimize your liquid calories! Liquid calories (soda, fruit drinks, fruit juices, caloric mixers and other sweet drinks) tend to be very fattening on 2 fronts: liquid sugars illicit rapid surges of blood glucose and insulin that perpetuate appetite and put the body in fat storage mode and liquid calories provide no bulk in the GI tract (physical bulk in the GI tract is a powerful appetite suppressant.)
3. Be sure to have some protein at each meal. Protein is nature’s diet pill.The digestion of protein gives rise to a steady and more prolonged blood glucose level which translates to less hunger and more energy! The healthiest proteins are fish, shellfish, poultry, beans, wild game, soy, omega 3 eggs, nuts, seeds and low-fat dairy products. Try:
4. Fill up first on foods that have lots of bulk but minimal calories i.e. the “big, yet skinny” fruits and veggies. As I mentioned earlier, physical bulk in the GI tract provides great appetite suppression.
5. Don’t let yourself get hungry! It takes fewer calories to prevent hunger than it does to deal with it once it occurs. Always consume 3 meals a day, with snacks between meals as necessary, to keep your hunger at bay. Withholding food for several hours or more leads to low blood sugar (excessive hunger), slows down your metabolism and primes the pancreas to release extra fat-storing insulin when you finally eat. In addition, true hunger elicits a primal fear and anxiety response that sets you up for dietary indiscretions.
6. Make exercise a priority! It’s a fantastic safeguard against weight gain and helps compensate for holiday indulgences. It’s also the perfect tonic for the stress and anxiety we all experience during the holiday season (many people binge when stressed.)
7. Be prudent in satisfying your sweet tooth.
8. Drink alcohol in moderation. Overindulgence loosens inhibitions and increases the risk of dietary indiscretion (and a number of other health risks.) For many too much alcohol in the evening triggers excessive morning hunger and cravings for starchy junk foods. And the calories in alcohol can really add up!
9. Get your beauty rest! Provocative new science reveals that sleep deprivation enhances appetite and increases cravings for diet-sabotaging foods like sweets, chips, breads and pasta. Late-night partying is a risk for expanding waistlines on multiple fronts! In addition, sleep deprivation reduces energy and enthusiasm for exercise.
10. Avoid mindless eating – approach every meal, every snack and every party mindfully.
Check out my video for more tips and strategies to avoid weight gain and to eat smart during the holidays. Until next time – Enjoy the holidays and your health!
Editor’s Note: Guest Blogger Ann G. Kulze, M.D. is a noted nutrition and wellness expert, physician, motivational speaker and member of the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s board of directors. Her new book, Eat Right for Life, is a blueprint for healthy eating. Scientifically based and spelled out in a way that is easy to understand and easy to follow, Dr. Ann’s strategies will help you feel great for good – and stay well for life.
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