You love gathering with family and friends for the holidays, and you’ve been looking forward to these get-togethers all year. The one challenge you’re not excited about is tables piled high with yummy foods and treats that aren’t exactly shy on calories.
That’s because you’re doing the smart thing and you’re heading into the holidays already on your weight-loss path. Nearly half of new year’s resolution makers in the United States target fitness, health, and weight loss, which makes sense given that more than two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or have obesity.
But, instead of waiting until January 1 to kick off your weight-loss efforts, you’re heading into the holidays well on your way, and you want to make sure you don’t set yourself back. To help, Dr. Scott Lafferty and our team at Lafferty Family Care want to share some tips for keeping your weight loss on track.
If you haven’t already availed yourself of our medical weight-loss services, now is a good time to get started. We can establish a baseline and goals for your weight loss and make sure you have what you need to help you meet your goals.
From nutrition guidance about weight-loss aids like GLP-1 medications, we make sure you have the support and oversight you need to lose the weight and keep it off.
To offset some of the holiday feasting, carve out some time each day for activity. Maybe enlist some friends and family and create a new routine of going for a pre-dinner walk. Or, get a little workout in the morning before the day’s festivities start.
Staying active can keep you in calorie-burning mode, and it can also offset some of the inevitable treats you’ll be enjoying.
Approach holiday smorgasbords with a “sampling or tasting” mindset rather than feasting. Get yourself the smallest plate possible — perhaps a dessert or salad plate — and only put small portions of each dish on the plate. This way, you have enough to taste and savor without overeating.
Avoid lingering and chatting around any table of food. Instead, get what you’d like to eat and then move away from the table.
We want to build on what we just covered about sampling rather than feasting. Most of us have a special dish that we look forward to each year, and we certainly don’t want you to deny yourself this annual treat.
Instead, serve yourself up small portions of your favorite holiday foods and eat them slowly and mindfully. After all, the holidays are a time of celebration, and there’s no reason why you can’t indulge in a few treats without derailing your weight-loss efforts.
Curb your hunger by drinking plenty of water, which is good for you and helps you to feel full.
Whenever possible, opt for the healthier food option. For example, if there’s a table of snacks that has chips, pretzels, and nuts — choose the nuts. Or, perhaps there are several side dishes, such as creamed spinach, candied yams, and a big green salad. You guessed it — we’d like to see you go for the salad, as those other vegetables are loaded with unnecessary calories.
Most holiday feasts have plenty of choices and you can even bring your own healthy snack or side dish to make sure you have good options that won’t set your healthy eating efforts back.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways you can stick to your plan through the holidays so you can head into the new year with fewer pounds under your belt.
If you have any more questions about setting yourself up for weight-loss success over the holidays, we’re happy to help you create a more detailed plan of action. To get started, simply contact our office in Rogers, Arkansas, to schedule an appointment.
