News Taffy

Most of you probably think of decorating and shopping when you read “getting ready for the holidays” but I think of it in a totally different way. Yes, I love decorating and my table has a wonderfully wicked witch presiding over meals right now. I am already wondering what in the world I will get my kids this Christmas and what our Christmas card theme will be. But I am already getting ready for the quadruple holiday threat that starts with Halloween and ends with New Year’s Eve. (Wait, it really ends with Valentine’s!) You know what I mean. Food, glorious food and too much of it. The calories that add up and the fat that follows. The guilt and the New Year’s resolutions that fail by February. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Start NOW to exercise 5 times a week. Seriously. You don’t have to run five miles a day or take up kick boxing. Just get off the couch and go for a 15 minute walk, do some pushups and sit-ups. Attend that workout class that you haven’t been to in five weeks. Go dancing with your sweetie. Just Do It! While you are at it, adopt some GOOD eating habits. Eat your veggies like Mom told you to and drink lots of water. Coca cola and Pepsi have made enough profit off you. Cut back on your portions. Attack the holiday weight gain head on and be in the best possible shape before the Thanksgiving turkey and his sidekicks roll out.

Once you’ve started on the path to righteousness, you can formulate a plan for avoiding weight gain during the holidays. Keep up the exercise and sensible eating, skip the Halloween candy and leave it for the kids. Thanksgiving day, eat your favorites but don’t make it a four day tribute to gluttony. Keep the cookie baking to a minimum and be extra careful at all the parties. You really don’t have to eat everything in sight.

Another part of planning for the holidays involves cooking for all those relatives that are coming to your house. If you make a big pot of vegetable beef soup now and freeze it, you won’t be tempted to order pizza or KFC when you have a house full but are too tired to cook. Cooking some healthier options now and freezing them for the hectic holiday rush will really pay off. You can come home to a decent meal and relax rather than wear yourself out more or worse, make poor eating choices. Even if you won’t be entertaining 20 or so relatives, having some quick meals in the freezer always helps for those days you can’t squeeze in cooking.

So give your holiday plans a tweak and make time for yourself and your health! You can check out my other blog at thecardiologistswife.blogspot.com for more quick and healthy recipes.

Until next week,
Lisa