6 tips to enjoy parties and celebrations without gaining weight
It's Superbowl Sunday!
Did you know that Super Bowl Sunday is the #2 biggest eating day in America, only behind Thanksgiving?
And what do Americans eat and drink on this day?
49 Million cases of beer
1.2 Billion chicken wings
8 Million pounds of guacamole
11 Million pounds of chips
Too often we use days like Superbowl Sunday as an excuse to eat whatever we want and in massive quantities because it's "just one day".
And while one day will not make or break your diet, the issue is when we continually give ourselves a pass for "special days".
If it's not Superbowl Sunday, it's a birthday, Valentine's Day, Easter, Passover, Memorial Day, an anniversary, vacation, Christmas, Hannukah, Halloween, Thanksgiving......you get the point.
If you keep overeating because of a "special occasion" you won't lose weight.
Period.
Your body doesn't care that it's "a special occasion".
A calorie is a calorie, regardless of when you eat it.
So how can you enjoy celebrations and still stay on track for your weight loss goals?
Here are 5 tips to keep your diet on track while enjoying life!:
Don't deprive yourself or say you can’t have something
The minute you say you “can’t” have something or it is “forbidden”, you will undoubtedly crave that very item. Labeling food this way can lead to all or nothing thinking. This thinking leads to guilt when you eat the “forbidden” food and people tend to go off the rails and say they will just start over tomorrow. Sound familiar? Or, maybe you binge on the food because you don’t know when you will have it again since it’s “forbidden”. Stop labeling food this way. There are no “bad” foods. Just better choices.
Choose only foods that you REALLY like
Don't eat something just because it's there. Assess everything being served at the party or gathering and determine which items are your favorites and you will enjoy the most. Then serve yourself a small amount of each and savor every bite.
Stop and think before you put food in your mouth
Every bite counts. So stop and ask yourself: Do you really want this? Are you actually hungry? Are you just eating it because it’s there? Pause and think before eating and make sure you are eating because you are hungry and not just mindlessly putting food in your mouth without even enjoying it.
Drink water
Oftentimes we reach for food when we are actually thirsty. Having water on hand will help you to avoid this. It will also fill your stomach up so you eat less and will prevent bloating.
Don’t arrive at any celebration hungry
While it might be tempting and seem like a good idea to “save up calories” for a party, you should definitely NOT do this. Arriving at a party hungry, then facing a smorgasbord of choices, is the best way to set yourself up for failure and ensure overeating. Instead, eat a healthy breakfast and lunch and then have a small snack before the party. Choose a snack that is high in protein and fiber so it will stay with you. Some good options are yogurt, veggies with hummus, a power bar, or a protein shake. Arriving at a party satisfied will allow you to make better choices and also to focus on socializing and talking with people, rather than focusing solely on food.
Determine the most important celebrations to you
Treating every holiday, birthday or weekend as a cause for celebration and as an excuse to eat whatever you want, will surely result in weight gain (or at the very least Not losing weight). Pick and choose when you indulge. It is ok to eat a little of everything but moderation is the key. Don’t overdo it.
Remember, it’s not about eliminating foods, but LIMITING your indulgences.
If you eat right 80% of the time the other 20% won’t make a difference in your weight loss journey.
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