Holly Jolly Holidays

Dreading all those holiday parties, Mr. Grinch? The endless rotation of cookie exchanges, wine tastings, Friendsgiving, White Elephant, Favorite Things, office parties, Christmas festivities, and all other manner of festivities between Thanksgiving and New Years can certainly cause anxiety if you’ve been working hard on your nutrition and fitness all year. But never fear! Employ some tried-and-true tactics this season, so that you can celebrate guilt-free. Because no one likes a Scrooge.

• Don’t Come Hangry | Avoid the “I earned this,” or “good food/bad food” mentality, which nearly always leads to a restrict-binge-regret-repeat cycle. Eat and exercise like normal leading up to an event to avoid arriving starved and ready to inhale a week’s worth of calories before you even greet the hostess.

• Guilt Isn’t A Good Look | So much of holiday festivities do revolve around food, and for good reason! Don’t deprive yourself of the joy and pleasure that comes with traditional treats; instead, focus on what you love and pass on the judgement!

• Mindfully Indulge | Research shows that those who face away from the buffet tend to be slimmer than those who sit looking at it. Likewise, white space on an overlarge plate promotes feelings of hunger. Take the smaller plate, keep the buffet out of your eyeline, your hand out of the candy jar, and evidence of eating (shrimp tails, olive pits, candy wrappers) on your plate.

• Bottoms Up | Watch those liquid calories! White wine spritzers, having a glass of water in between cocktails, and avoiding sugar-filled mixers with liquor are all great tactics when it comes to Christmas cocktails in all their red and green glory.

Following a fun night, focus on hydration the following day, no crazy cleanses required. Return to your normal routine and check the closet for what you’re going to wear to your next event! Happy holidaying!