The No-Bloat Holidays
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Temptation surrounds us every day, but during the next two months of holiday cheer, it’s especially hard to avoid overeating and giving up on exercise. There’s the massive spread at Thanksgiving dinner, then the cocktails during holiday parties, followed by baskets of sweets at the office, and tables full of caviar and champagne (let’s hope) at New Year’s Eve. Add on a trip to the family back home in Peoria, and you’re off your hot yoga routine entirely. There are, however, strategies for looking and feeling your best from November 1 to January 1, when your New Year resolutions kick in. All it takes is some planning.
According to Amara Wagner, founder of Amara Wellness, a holistic health counseling service in Manhattan, the key is to be honest with yourself. “The holidays are not a free pass,” Ms. Wagner said. “If you’re not feeling so great now, and then you throw caution to the wind, you’re going to feel even worse later.”
When it comes to food, moderation is a watchword. But personal trainer James Villepigue, author of “The Body Sculpting Bible for Women” (Hatherleigh Press), doesn’t want to miss out on the good stuff of the holidays. His approach is to be extra mindful of his intake before the main events, then treat holiday meals as “cheat” days.
“I look forward to eating whatever I want at Thanksgiving,” he said. “But prior to the holiday, I’m as strict as possible.”
Being strict does not mean skipping meals, though. For him, it means eating steadily throughout the day. “If you eat a little something every three hours, you can put off the sensation of being hungry,” he said.
Andi Ross, president of Modern Fit Women, an online health and nutrition counseling service, finds that sticking to your regular meal routine – especially before parties, and even before Thanksgiving – will help you avoid a classic trap: “You’re so famished by the time you get there, so you overindulge.”
At events where there is a wide variety of food, her advice is to start with the vegetables and nuts. “Once you get filled up on that, take bite-size samples of the rest,” she said.
It also pays to ask yourself why you’re at the party in the first place, according to Ms. Wagner. While some gatherings are required for professional or family reasons, others are choices. Packing your schedule can create stress, which is often a trigger for overeating. “Just because you’re invited to something doesn’t mean that you have to go. Figure out what functions are most important to you and prioritize,” she said.
There is yet another pitfall to showing up to the opening of an envelope: “If you don’t really know anybody, you stand by the chips and dip.”
No matter how well you do with controlling your urge to nibble, staying fit is a crucial part of looking good. Again, the main concern is not to let the holiday mentality take over. “Most people are going to feel like, ‘I should be exercising, but it’s the holidays, so forget it,'” Ms. Wagner said.
The best-case scenario is to keep to your regular routines, but next best is to be honest with yourself about what you can do. “Evaluate your schedule for the holidays. Be realistic, but schedule it so that it is a priority,” Ms. Ross said.
If your plans will take you out of town, away from your regular gym or classes, it’s best to get creative. “Something is better than nothing – even something as low impact as rope jumping,” Mr. Villepigue said. “Go for a walk. Get active in some way. A minimum of 30 minutes.”
Reaching out to family members who are health conscious can keep up your momentum and commitment. “If you can join forces with other people, there’s nothing better than that. When one person is down, the other person is up,” Mr. Villepigue said.
Working out together or taking a walk can also bring you closer to your far-flung relatives. Better still, an after-dinner walk gets you out of doing the dishes. What’s not to like?