While you may not be spending the holidays with your family unfortunately, it doesn’t mean you may not fall victim to a little over-indulging! Here are some tips to help keep you feeling good over this holiday season.
Have a meal before you indulge
Make sure there’s some protein and fat with each meal you have and that will help support better blood sugar balance. It’ll also keep you more satisfied and full of energy between meals and less likely to overeat holiday dessert and treats.
Make sure you’re hydrated
Thirst is a REALLY common reason that people think they’re hungry, so aim for about 8 cups of water or herbal tea per day. Don’t forget too, that coffee (and alcohol) is dehydrating. Add at least an additional cup of water for each coffee you consume per day, and come to see me if you’re drinking coffee to maintain your energy levels (we have better options than this)!
Choose a SMALL plate
Studies have shown that bigger plates make your food appear smaller, so you’ll underestimate what you’ve eaten and are likely load up your plate even more. Choosing a smaller plate helps your brain realize just how much you’ve eaten before you’ve overdone it.
Stop before you’re full!
If you’re still eating by the time you feel full, you’re way past overdue! Especially during the holidays when we tend to overeat more, it’s best if you can a) leave room for dessert and treats at the end, and b) give yourself some time in between a meal and dessert. Take a rest! This helps your body catch up and give you proper signals about how full you are before it’s too late and you’re super over-stuffed.
MOVE YOUR BODY!
Despite all the tips above, you may overeat anyway, and that’s okay! Aim to move your body daily, even if that means doing some gentle restorative yoga, going for a walk around the neighbourhood. It’ll help your digestion and get your body feeling a little more limber after all those snacks, meals, treats and dessert.