One Hundred Dollars a Month

So, the holiday parties have started, plates of cookies are showing up at  the door, and it’s time to start deciding whether or not to give in and go nuts with all of the delicious temptations.  I mean, you can always hop online and order some elastic-waisted pants, right?  The thing is packing on a few {or a lot of} extra pounds during the holidays has kind of become a twisted tradition for me.  This year, though, since I fit into my goal jeans, I really want to avoid the viscous cycle of regret altogether, without having to sacrifice too much…is that really so much to ask?!

I think with just a couple of compromises, I can slide right into my jeans on New Year’s Day {that is, if I decide to get out of my pajamas :)}, all while still having enjoyed most of what the decadence of the holidays.  If you are trying to do the same thing, here’s a couple of easy solutions to keep the battle of the bulge in  your favor:

1. Decide on one party or event to splurge.  One splurge night won’t make a bit of difference, but several parties start adding up pretty quick.  Pick one where you know there will be a great spread, that’s your “go nuts” party.  Shovel it in if you want, but the rest of the parties, you have to agree to exercise good judgement.
2. Enjoy the neighborhood Christmas lights with an evening stroll.  Walking is great exercise, and you only have to commit to it every evening for this month.  It’ll help burn off excess calories, release endorphins, and probably change to world.  That’s how cool exercise is supposed to be.
3. Eat before you go out.  If you have been invited to a party or holiday event, eat before you go.  The idea is not to tempt yourself when you are overly hungry.  Hunger = lack of self-control {or at least it does for me}.  It’s a heck of a lot easier to say no {or to just have one} to a plate of fudge when you’re not really that hungry.
4. Drink water.  Liquid calories really add up quickly.  If you don’t want to eliminate some of the food choices, make an effort to only drink water.  Alcohol, punch, and eggnog all pack a lot of empty calories.  This one move is an easy way to reduce the amount of calories you might otherwise have taken in.
5. Make “healthy” treats.  Find lower sugar/calorie alternatives to the sweets that accumulate over the holidays.  That way, if your sweet tooth strikes, you have something on hand, and don’t immediately go to the large tin of homemade caramel corn the neighbor just dropped by {not that that has every happened to me, this is all purely hypothetical}.

I think the key is being reasonable.  It’s no fun to not get to enjoy the festivities, but it’s also no fun to have indentations where your pants are cutting off your circulation.  What do you think, how do you manage all of the unhealthy options this time of year without losing  your waistline?

~Mavis