10 Diet Hacks for a Healthy Holiday
Maybe you’ve been trucking along, losing a little weight each week for several months. You’re feeling great (as you should), and you’re more determined than ever to hit your goal weight.
That’s truly awesome! For all of us who are concerned about health, it’s critical that we don’t underestimate the power of the holidays to take us off course. We need to prepare mentally for this two-month food fest, lest our diets derail.
How do I handle the holidays? To be honest, I do let myself eat certain foods that are normally not in my diet. This year, I skipped the Halloween candy, but I plan on getting down on some homemade apple pie and peach cobbler come Thanksgiving.
After that, I’ll be back on track until Christmas Day. In between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I’ll stay away from the fudge and cookies. Sugar is not our friend!
Here are a few diet hacks I recommend to my clients who want to stay healthy over the holidays.
Increase your HIIT cardio when you do indulge. Let’s be honest—you’re going to want that piece of pie. A 20-minute high intensity interval training workout will boost your metabolism for the next 24 hours as much as 50 minutes of steady cycling. It’s an efficient way to burn off those extra calories you might eat on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Sign up for your local Thanksgiving 5k. A lot of communities host one Thanksgiving morning. My clients love the Oceanside Turkey Trot, which takes place in downtown Oceanside near the pier. The tagline is “Move your feet before you eat.” I couldn’t say it any better!
Know why you’re losing weight/eating healthy. Write down your personal reasons for sticking to your diet. Put your list somewhere accessible and review it every time you feel like you want to throw in the towel (and for added benefit, every morning). You’ll have an easier time turning down goodies if your reasons for eating healthy are fresh in your mind.
Substitute maple syrup or honey for sugar (in moderation). White sugar has zero nutritional benefit, and recent research suggests it might even be addictive. If you’re making a sweetened beverage or baking, try using maple syrup or honey instead. Just don’t overdo it since these sugar substitutes, while potentially less addictive, are still very high in calories.
Eat a high-protein meal before you go to holiday parties. You’re going to be more likely to break your diet if your hunger signals are turned up full blast, and there may not be healthy options. Try eating something high in protein so you will feel full longer.
Drink a lot of water, too! It’s easy to confuse thirst for hunger. Stay hydrated throughout the day and drink 32 ounces of water before your event. You’ll feel less hungry and will be less likely to overeat.
Give yourself permission to disappoint people. Some families consider cooking and eating an act of love. If that’s your family, you’ll need to double down on your resolution. Visualize yourself being offered food that isn’t on your diet, and practice assertively turning it down. You might have to say no a few times!
Look for Paleo versions of your favorite holiday dishes. I don’t advocate a strict Paleo diet, but I do appreciate that Paleo recipes are sugar free and emphasize healthy fats and carbs. If you want a healthier version of pumpkin pie or sweet potato casserole, take a look at the many Paleo blogs out there. Elana’s Pantry and Against All Grain are good places to start.
Turn your holiday shopping into an ab workout. Did you know that just tightening your abs helps tone your core muscles? Instead of standing in line at the checkout checking your phone (or in addition to it), try drawing “belly button to spine” and holding it as long as you can or until you get to the cashier.
Play an active family game after dinner. This year, skip the traditional post-dinner nap and get active with your family. My kids love Just Dance, which is a super fun way to burn a lot of calories while staying in the family spirit of the holidays. You could even play adults versus kids! Get your dance on while burning the calories you just ate.
I hope these diet hacks get you thinking! In addition to planning your menu gift list, make sure to plan how you’re going to take care of you. You deserve to have a healthy, happy holiday that keeps you on track with your weight loss goals.