Alcohol Consumption Should Be Tempered During the Holidays

The winter holidays are a time for family, friends and feasting. Unfortunately, the most delicious holiday meals can be filled with added sugars, salt and fat. For many adults, it is about more than just food, as alcohol is traditionally consumed in greater quantities this time of year and most often in a sugary or creamy mix. Moreover, our Holiday season is never just one day of overeating, which the body actually handles quite efficiently. Instead, the winter holidays represent six weeks or more of bad eating behaviors, stressful situations and sleep disturbances. Nonetheless, it is never a good idea to save up your calories, so you can eat whatever you want at the party or holiday dinner. Your risk of overeating is less if you keep your hunger in check with a healthy snack before heading out the door.

• HOLIDAY EXERCISE - According to a study published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, women who exercised in the morning moved more the rest of the day and had less of a response to pictures of tempting food throughout the day.
• BE METICULOUS BUT EAT - It is always easy to overeat at a holiday party. Nonetheless, one of the easiest ways to control what you consume is to bring your own healthy dish to share. Moreover, it guarantees that you are managing your holiday eating behaviors.
• LEARN HOW TO USE WILLPOWER - It is easy to get caught up in the holiday rush, which frequently includes multitasking during meals. Studies have shown distracted eating is a likely cause of overeating, as the person is too busy to notice their body's fullness signals. So, eat mindfully by ignoring distractions at mealtime.
• PORTION FOOD SIZES - Cutting back on simple carbohydrates during the holidays can put you on track to lose weight faster. When you reduce your overall carb intake, you limit the source of fuel and your body will start burning fat as its primary energy source.
• CONCENTRATE ON YOUR MEAL - Although you may not be able to control what food you're served, no food should be on your naughty list. You are bound to see others eating, so choose dishes you really love and can't get any other time of year. Eat in moderation to avoid guilt while satisfying your food craving.
• DRINK MORE WATER - From busy schedules to celebratory cocktails, making certain your body has enough water each day becomes more necessary during the winter holidays. Luckily, it will also help combat a post-party headache by making sure you stay hydrated for start through your nightcap.
• INTERMITTENT FASTING WORKS FOR THE HOLIDAYS - Intermittent fasting is not an exercise in starvation. In fact, fasting is a very calculated and controlled absence of food that offers unique advantages in countering periods of overeating.

All of the weight loss techniques in world will not work unless you adopt healthy strategies and commit to a specific plan for the winter holiday season. Remember, it is not just a couple of days. The winter holidays are a six-week season of unique and unusual temptations. The less you rely on willpower over the winter holidays, the better. Moreover, creating good strategies for managing food consumption at parties, dinners and other events, the more empowered you feel in making good food choices. According to a study published in Obesity, people who engaged in self-weighing every day during the holidays avoided putting on the extra pounds. Having an eating strategy made participants extra sensitive to changes and adjustment to reduce discrepancies were immediate.

Metabolic Research Center has calorie-reduced versions of many Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's dishes, snacks and drinks. Visit our Holiday Recipe Section to learn more, bring one of our healthy dishes to your next party, and wow your friends and family.