We all know that consuming alcohol this year is especially satisfying, so it would be completely unrealistic to cut it out entirely with all those excellent holiday parties to attend, and having that special peppermint baileys coffee to keep you warm on these cold nights.
The key here is to keep alcohol down by not allowing yourself to binge drink. Try to limit your intake to 1-2 glasses of wine or 1-2 beer or 2-3 ounces of spirits or liquors 1-2 days / week. This will make sure that you are not over consuming alcohol, which could easily raise blood sugar levels & insulin secretion, to help keep that muffin top away for the holidays.
The key here is to keep alcohol down by not allowing yourself to binge drink. Try to limit your intake to 1-2 glasses of wine or 1-2 beer or 2-3 ounces of spirits or liquors 1-2 days / week. This will make sure that you are not over consuming alcohol, which could easily raise blood sugar levels & insulin secretion, to help keep that muffin top away for the holidays.
2. Eat High Quality Protein and Fat
If you do plan on drinking, be sure not to start the evening with a drink before you eat. Alcohol on an empty stomach will cause a rapid rise in blood sugar, causing you to feel hungry faster which will in turn make you want to eat more. There is a reason why restaurants want a drink at your table within the first 2 minutes of you being seated. They know that the more you drink, the more you eat, and the more you eat and drink the more profits the restaurant makes. So not only can eating before you drink help keep the calorie count down, it could also keep a little more cash in your wallet.
Try eating high quality protein, organic, grass fed if possible, and fat (note: organic butter, coconut oil, avocado and raw almonds are great choices) before you begin drinking. This will help stabilize your blood sugar more effectively when you begin to have your 1 or 2 drinks for the evening. Eating before you drink wall also give you a feeling of satiety which will in turn prevent you from consuming extra unwanted calories.
3. Avoid Those Sugary Holiday Dessert and Dessert Drinks
Those delicious holiday desserts and dessert drinks are full of unwanted sugar and empty calories and your fat cells are just anticipating the chance to 'plumpin' right back up while you enjoy in those fat loving sugars.
If you must have a dessert or a dessert coffee try sharing one with a friend, or just have a bite or two to satisfy your sweet tooth and be done with the rest. *See below for a great recipe on a delicious Christmas Pudding.
4. Don't Over Eat
With all those delicious home-made dinners and nights out coming during the holiday season, it is easy to gorge till your belly is about to burst. Learning the art of eating till your satisfied will greatly help you from over eating. Satisfying your hunger means eating enough that if you wanted to go for a 5K jog or a moderate weight room work out, you could do so comfortably. If you have gotten to the point where you need to loosen that top button or have to wear your stretchy pants you have grossly over eaten. You are not a bear fattening up to go through a 4 month hibernation.
Learning to eat till your satisfied will help you keep the calorie count down on a daily basis.
5. Water, Water, Water
The majority of your fluid intake should be from plain water or herbal tea (nothing added). Making sure that most of your fluid during the day comes from these sources means you will keep your calorie count much lower as well as keep you well hydrated and give you a felling of satiety. If you have ever been hungry and weren't able to satisfy your hunger no matter how much you ate, there is a good chance you are/were dehydrated. The brains mechanism for thirst and hunger can be very similar, so attempt to drink a large glass of water (500mL) 15 minutes before you decide to go after that sweet desert or large meal, it might just save you a lot of calories.
*Check out this healthy delicious recipe to help quench that sweet tooth.
Healthy Christmas Cake Recipe
*Check out this healthy delicious recipe to help quench that sweet tooth.
Healthy Christmas Cake Recipe
