Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Almost Christmas!

It is 4 days until Christmas and I can hardly wait.  Work and school are a huge stress so I have been hitting the cookies and sweets pretty hard.  The good news is that I am gaining control back and feeling the warmth of the Holidays filling my soul.  This link shares some great tips about stressful eating during the holidays.  It is 10 "survival" guides for those of us who tend to reach for the goodies in order to make it through the holidays.

Although many nutritionists and health professionals tell you to eat healthy and keep exercising during the holidays, sometimes we don't have the energy or desire to do those things.  Being a believer in "everything in moderation", I say go for it! Enjoy your guilty pleasures, after all, they only come once a year.  Guilt is the trigger to many peoples' overeating and indulging, so why should we feel sorry for ourselves?  The more we delve in guilt, the more we overeat, the more we feel guilty...and so it goes...

The key to the Holidays is to fill up on veggies and lean proteins first, drink lots of water, and then enjoy and savor every last bite of your favorite treats!  (Yes that's treats...plural!)  To really savor your foods, chew every bite 20-50 times (yes, you read right).  This allows your body to register what you are eating.  Feel every sensation in your mouth, every flavor, the temperature, the texture.  Chew and chew.  Then, notice how the food makes you feel.  Do you feel happy?  Joyful?  Warm and fuzzy?  Absorb that feeling and let it sink in before you go for another round or bite.  Next, talk with some friends or family members you haven't seen in a while.  This alone will make you feel warm and fuzzy without any added calories.

The biggest thing to take away from this post is that the Holidays are for being with friends and family, not indulging on sugar and alcohol or seeing who got the best gifts.  Enjoy those things as well, but remember that your friends and family will always be there for you and that they want to share this wonderful Holiday with you.  Enjoy it with them and celebrate the season!

Luana ola!

Buon Natale! (Merry Christmas in Italian)

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