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Holiday Overeating

Fighting the Problems Caused by Holiday Overeating

Don’t Let Holiday Overeating Throw You Off-Track

Holiday overeating can become a habit if you don’t take quick action.

OK, I admit it.

Despite my usual discipline and mantra of “everything in moderation”, I ate entirely too much Thanksgiving Day. Then because I was so tired from all the cooking and partying, I didn’t work out the next day as I usually do.

This could have been the start of the proverbial “Holiday 7” – the seven pounds on average that people are said to gain between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

There have been a few years when I matched or exceeded that average.

I could have made all kinds of excuses why I should continue to let myself go (wild). “The holidays only come once a year. I don’t want to offend the hostess by turning down that luscious dessert. I can diet tomorrow. I deserve a treat once in a while.”

But I chose not to make excuses. I chose not to continue on the track of excess.

I chose to be good to myself by getting back on the track of moderation. I ate lightly for a few days after Thanksgiving.

I have this little psychological trick of telling myself how stuffed I still feel. It makes me not even want to look at food. Another thing that often helps is to get absorbed in something I really love.

Here are more of my healthy eating tips and diet tips.

Jean’s Post-Holiday Overeating Eating Plan

If you got off-track on Thanksgiving (as I did) by overindulging in all the wonderful traditional holiday goodies, please join me in getting back on track. It’s really not hard if you address the situation quickly.

And over this loooong winter holiday season I expect to do this frequently!

Life is too short to deny yourself an occasional little treat – especially one that is a family or ethnic tradition. Traditions are so important. The older I get, the more I appreciate that.

I savored the traditional Polish kielbasa with sauerkraut, my mother’s recipe for turkey stuffing, Doreen’s world-class French bread and my homemade apple pie (which has become a family tradition).

So, it may mean a few extra workouts or extra-long walks for a couple of days after the holiday overating splurge.

It may mean taking in fewer calories than usual as well; but if you truly listen to your body, it will tell you that it packed away all those extra calories just for little old you! Isn’t that neat?

I ate lightly for a few days after Thanksgiving just because my body told me to. I worked out the following Saturday and Sunday (days I don’t normally) and it felt good.

Did you know that exercise actually helps your digestive system work more efficiently?

A couple of readers’ have asked how one can learn to listen to one’s body.

Good question.

If I were listening to my body in one way, I would be biting into a cream-filled pastry horn right now, because that’s what it is craving.

However, I’m listening to my body say that it’s really not hungry right now. My mind is also saying that finishing this article is my first priority. Then I need to finish off this month’s newsletter.

This is simply not a good time to hop in the car, drive to the bakery and satisfy my craving.

[I’m not going to mention that cream-filled pastry horn again because just thinking about it is making my mouth water!]

It’s really more a matter of “mind over matter” and using mental tricks and skills to convince your body to want what is good for it.

I’ve trained my body, by habit, to feel hunger only at mealtimes. Or if I do feel a little hunger pang between meals, I think of what “must” be done or of something diverting I would “like” to do – other than snack.

If I have done the holiday overeating thing, I convince myself that I am still full for days after. When I feel that way, I don’t even want to look at food and consequently I eat very lightly.

The mind is a wonderful thing; and so is the human body. Using them intelligently in concert is probably the best anti-aging strategy there is.

Choose to be the best you can be – whatever your chronological age. Replace bad habits with good ones and you’ll be amazed how great you can feel.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be taken as medical advice.

 

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