Make conscious choices

With the holiday season upon us, we know we will be tempted with an abundance of food. When you go to a holiday party, be aware well before you arrive that there will be incredible temptations. It's highly unlikely we can resist all of them, but if you choose to have treats, choose something that you really enjoy, don't eat just for the sake of eating. I would far rather you make conscious choices of what you will enjoy, and not have guilt, than simply mindlessly eat the whole evening and feel guilty the following day.

The main meal is usually never the problem, it is the tasty treats that are laid out on the table as people talk and sip wine. PAUSE! Look at all the food, and choose what you will have and how much you will have. Eat slowly, enjoy the treat fully. That is better than walking in and filling up a plate with cookies and other treats without thinking. If you are more mindful and consciously think about what it is you want, then you will have less, and whatever you choose will be more enjoyable.

With alcoholic drinks, it's always best if you have a glass of water in between each glass; you will feel fuller faster, and this will slow down the effects of the alcohol and help you resist food temptations.

The holidays should also be a good time to do some exercise. Even if you just go for walks and enjoy the lights on the houses, or walk the sidewalks during the day, there should be no excuse (barring injury or illness) from doing something.

A lot of us are working on diminishing food cravings and this is why I would like everyone to be careful. There are a lot of treats around the house, so before the "main event' in the evening, try to be very careful with treats during the day. I would love people to minimize their food intake during the day, otherwise we might awaken these cravings, and even if we think we aren't hungry going into the party, we will eat those sugary treats anyway.

Truthfully, I'm not too worried about anyone because there are just a couple of days where we might get off track, and there are many more days to allow ourselves to get back to making good food choices. Don't feel guilty, you have many more days and weeks to get yourself turned around.

Enjoy whatever time off you have, try to do some exercise, but most importantly, be mindful of what you will eat. Eat slowly, and if the temptations in one room are too much, go to another part of the house away from the food and talk to people there.

Always remember to never give up trying. We have holidays and celebrations every year, so just do the best you can, and get back on track as quickly as you can.

You can do it!

Dr. Doug