Rejoice!! It’s the time of the year for celebration. With Christmas and New Year around the corner, the celebrations bring with it a plethora of good times and YUMMY TREATS.
As you get together with your friends and family and splurge on delicious cuisine and heavenly desserts, all the festivities and parties can prove to be a disaster for your waistlines. Our diaries and our minds are packed in catching up with friends over food and drinks. There are three major factors that can lead to overindulgence – the all encompassing party spirit, the proximity to high-calorie food, and the availability of alcohol. And with all that, eating and drinking in moderation goes out of the window. You tend to lose control on rational thinking and your perception of food and its portions change. Come January and you have gained excess weight.

A few simple do’s if followed can help prevent overindulgence:
1. Eat a small snack before you for go for parties or to meet family / friends so you’re not tempted to over-indulge in high carbohydrate, high fat and sugar rich goodies. Planning ahead can help you maintain discipline in the face of temptation. Do not go to a party when you’re starving, try to have a nutritious snack beforehand.

2. Avoid alcohol or keep it to a minimum if you can. It’s not just about calories but also about control. If you drink a lot you would not have much control over what you eat. If you do enjoy a drink, then stick to red or white wine or a spirit such as gin or vodka with a sugar free mixer. Avoid beer and flavoured liqueurs which are high in calories. Remember to stay hydrated and have a glass of water for each alcoholic beverage you drink.

3. Once you have finished eating step away from the buffet or food table. Many people forget that there’s more to a party than food. If there’s dancing then get up and burn some calories! Otherwise just socialize and keep the focus on enjoyment, rather than food. Chatting is a great diversion. Take your mind off food and focus on the conversation.

4. Make a new holiday tradition, the family walk. Besides burning some extra calories, this will get everyone away from the food for awhile. Get people off the couch and move. Walking not only benefits you physically but also puts you in a mindset to be more careful about what you eat. So let the celebrations begin!! Focus on relationships, friends, singing, dancing, new experiences and all the jokes and giggles. This will help you keep the cakes and the goodies at bay.

Wish you a healthy and happy Christmas and an amazing New year!!