THE DON’T BE SILLY SEASON By Anthony Noud
So its that time of year, spirits are high, work is winding up, that holiday feeling is fast approaching and you feel like a socialite because you have to pick and choose which parties you will attend and at which you will just “make an appearance ”…Whether its catching up with family, friends or boozy client lunches, it’s known as the festive or the silly season- call it what you like but traditionally it means lots of restaurant/catered meals, free flowing alcohol, and a common theme of over indulgence.
In recent weeks I have been seeing a slightly alarming trend. With many of my clients and other people I speak to having seemed to have succumbed to the idea that they “cant lose weight at this time of year” or “I have all these Christmas parties” so therefore “the rest of the year is a write off and I will just pick it up in the new year”.
Yeah sure, what a fantastic idea, lets work hard all year long, achieve some great results and be feeling good knowing that we are finally making real progress only to “write off” the last 2 months of the year! With the inevitable outcome of landing back at square one come January 1st, feeling bitter and guilty then making the same new years resolutions that “this year I will get serious about my health and body” for the 10th time this decade.
Now I am only voicing my opinion here, but to me that seems like pretty strange logic, kind of like a mild mental illness even. After all, didn’t Einstein define insanity as doing the same thing over and over yet expecting a different result?
I have compiled this list of tips for you to use over this coming party season. Read them, remember them and USE them do this silly season differently. Make it your leanest, healthiest and most enjoyable yet!
- · Eat a good breakfast every single day- when on holidays and out of routine it is common to forget, skip or eat poorly at breakfast. Make it a rule that you will eat a healthy, lean breakfast EVERY day. This will leave you in good stead to eat well for the remainder of the day. Lots of evidence suggests you will also be less likely to overeat
- · When at cocktail/catered parties with no healthy options adopt a “no food” policy- that is you don’t eat anything for the few hours you are at the party (take your own snack/small meal if need be- think protein shake or tin of tuna, both can fit neatly in a handbag)
- · Eat a substantial meal before you go! Always, no exceptions. If you are hungry it will be near impossible to decline whatever is on offer
- · Don’t eat the nibblys and snacks! Period! –only option is fresh vege sticks w low fat/no dip
- · Position yourself away from the snack table/buffet table. You know the old saying- out of sight, out of mind
- · Its perfectly acceptable to decline whatever platter/appetizer/rubbish your host/caterer is constantly offering as you mingle
- · Consuming sugar free mints or chewing gum can help you avoid party nibblys
- · Drink water!! Staying hydrated is important year round but particularly during an Australian summer. I am sure you have heard thirst and dehydration is often mistaken for hunger, so drink up! Aim for 2-3 litres minimum daily
- · Drink water not soft drink or juices- try iced sparkling water with fresh lemon or lime. (my personal fav)
- · Remove the skin from your meats and trim fats
- · Ask for a “sliver” of any food or dessert you really want to try and eat it slowly, taking time to enjoy it. Don’t deprive yourself, just remember you don’t need more than a taste of a particularly rich food to be satisfied
- · Don’t overeat! Stop eating when you are full- eat slowly to get a better sense of when you begin getting full (approx. 20mins to register)
- · When a menu is available, choose the healthy, low calorie option. For more info regarding this read my previous blog here http://exquisitephysiques.blogspot.com/2011/06/dieting-while-out-of-routine-by-anthony.html
- · When cooking at home, cut potatoes and other vegetables into larger chunks for roasting, as they will absorb less fat and ultimately contain fewer calories when cooked.
- · Say no to the pork crackling or turkey skin
- Go for the chicken/turkey breast over the ham or pork
- · Say yes to the prawns and fresh seafood but avoid the tartae and thousand island sauces
- · Go for fresh fruit salad over high sugar and fat dessert
- · Say no to seconds! Give yourself time to feel full and satiated
- · Fill up on fiber, keeping you full and aiding digestion extra fiber is a no brainer- think green veges particularly with skin intact
- · Consider this- are you really hungry? Or are you eating because it is being placed in front of you/offered to you? Don’t be a lemming!
- · Set a limit to the number of “cheat meals” you will have each week- try one day on/one day off over holidays
- · Tightening your belt before starting a celebratory meal can keep you aware of how full you may be getting
- · Choose or ask for a small plate both in size and in serving
- · Avoid sauces and dressings stick with balsamic vinegar, lemon and lime juices
- · Say No politely…simple!
- · Focus on socializing
- · Offer to bring your own healthy, clean meal to parties (you’ll know at least ONE thing will be safe to eat that way)
- · If entertaining- prepare a variety of foods including your own clean meal option
- · Put away the treats you may have around your house saved for guests when not entertaining
- · Send your guests home with the leftovers from your gathering
- · Have some pre prepared meal options in the freezer/on hand for those hectic days that your plan goes out the window
- · Exercise!! If out of routine, go for a walk, play with the kids, swim, have more sex J DANCE DANCE DANCE!! This all burns off extra calories
· Take the opportunity to have a good look at your eating/lifestyle habits. Are you an emotional eater (you may be surprised as MANY of us are)? Do you binge eat? What excuses are you making? Do you notice any patterns?
And what about the alcohol? The Christmas party just wouldn’t be the same!! It is unrealistic for most to avoid all alcohol over the party season, but just keep in mind exactly what you are drinking, and the effect it will have on your waistline.
Firstly, your body considers alcohol a poison! So much so that once you begin drinking your body immediately works to burn off the booze and in turn will instantly stop burning body fat. After just a couple of drinks, your fat loss may be stalled for a few hours, after MANY drinks it could be days before your body begins burning fat again.
So this means that ANYTHING you consume after your first sip of alcohol is more likely to be stored as fat than it normally would. That means mixers, calories in cocktails juices/fruits etc, nibblys, even decent meals and especially the dreaded 4am maccas… absolutely ANYTHING you put in your mouth. With that said, use the following as a guide to limit the waistline damage when drinking:
- · Go for clear spirits on the rocks or with fresh lime and soda eg; vodka lime and soda = about 64 cals whereas 1 glass of red wine= 125+ cals or 1 corona = 139 cals….DOUBLE THE CALORIES!!
- · In order of caloric preference, drink: vodka and soda, gin and tonic, other spirits such as scotch and soda, red, white wine or champagne, beer
- · Avoid high sugar mixers- opt for sugar free versions of your favourites eg; red bull or coke zero
- · Keep your vitamin b levels up, although a “one-percenter” and by no means any sort of saving grace, vitamin b can help to metabolise alcohol
- · Pick the particular parties at which you will drink at- it doesn’t have to be ALL of them!
- · Set a limit to your drinking nights/days
- · Drink mineral/sparkling water with lime between drinks- and nobody will know the difference
Lastly, ENJOY YOURSELF! The holiday season is a time to relax and wind down. You don’t have to feel deprived or miss out on any of your favourite things. Remember your goals, and don’t wake up on new years day feeling bitter about another silly season of over indulgence. Use this list, create a plan that works for you and stick to it. With some careful planning and commitment, it IS totally possible to lose weight during the silly season!
Just because you have a few (or even several) extra social occasions at this time of year DOES NOT qualify you as somehow exempt from being responsible for your diet from November through to January. Take ownership and stay on track!
I have previously written on “dieting while out of routine” and encourage you to read this also if you will be travelling, or eating from restaurants over the silly season. Read it here http://www.exquisitephysiques.blogspot.com/2011/06/dieting-while-out-of-routine-by-anthony.html now!
Unsure of how you will cope this silly season? Don’t do it alone! I have availability for a small number of clients that want dietary plans and support for the Christmas/New year period. Contact me on anthony@purehealthclubs.com.au for more information
