Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and for most this means a vast spread of greasy turkey, mashed potatoes and chocolate pies. Often coinciding with this smorgasbord of holiday treats is an ever-expanding waist line, the end result of ignoring that signal from the stomach to the brain that says "put down the fork!" But don't think you have to forgo these tasty holiday treats in an effort to preserve your washboard abs or hourglass figure, as there are a variety of ways to help prevent those extra pounds from accumulating during the holiday season and even keep them off for years to come.
If you're cooking Thanksgiving dinner for your family and are worried about excessive snacking of all the wonderful foods you're preparing, a simple fix is chewing a piece of gum while cooking. This can help stave off cravings and keep your mind occupied at the same time. In addition, when preparing recipes, substitute items such as real butter for low-fat margarine and sugar substitutes instead of real sugar. The taste difference is negligible if there at all, and the end result is a much healthier, significantly less-fattening meal.
When the time comes to indulge, the best way to cut out unneeded calories is portion control. According to Connie Diekman, MEd, RD, it is best to focus on holiday-specific foods that you would not normally consume throughout the year. Try and avoid the temptation of a second helping, and remember that Thanksgiving is the time for leftovers [http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/66538/what_to_do_with_thanksgiving_leftovers.html?cat=22], so all of the wonderful food you just can't get enough of will be available for days to come (unless your entire extended family has come to visit!) If you feel you must have a second plate of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pie, go for a stroll around the block or, conversely, exercise [http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2338880/simple_tips_for_creating_and_maintaining.html] the morning of and work up a caloric deficit. Eating a hearty breakfast in the morning can help, as it will not only give you energy throughout the day but it will keep you full long enough to prevent a second helping from working its way onto your plate.
Keeping the weight off during the holidays is no easy task, but with a little hard work, determination and ingenuity, you can keep that waistline slim and that heart healthy during the holiday season. More information concerning staying slim during Thanksgiving can be found on WebMD, while many great holiday health tips can be found here [http://www.associatedcontent.com/health_wellness/?content_type_id=5&cat=5]!
If you're cooking Thanksgiving dinner for your family and are worried about excessive snacking of all the wonderful foods you're preparing, a simple fix is chewing a piece of gum while cooking. This can help stave off cravings and keep your mind occupied at the same time. In addition, when preparing recipes, substitute items such as real butter for low-fat margarine and sugar substitutes instead of real sugar. The taste difference is negligible if there at all, and the end result is a much healthier, significantly less-fattening meal.
When the time comes to indulge, the best way to cut out unneeded calories is portion control. According to Connie Diekman, MEd, RD, it is best to focus on holiday-specific foods that you would not normally consume throughout the year. Try and avoid the temptation of a second helping, and remember that Thanksgiving is the time for leftovers [http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/66538/what_to_do_with_thanksgiving_leftovers.html?cat=22], so all of the wonderful food you just can't get enough of will be available for days to come (unless your entire extended family has come to visit!) If you feel you must have a second plate of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pie, go for a stroll around the block or, conversely, exercise [http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2338880/simple_tips_for_creating_and_maintaining.html] the morning of and work up a caloric deficit. Eating a hearty breakfast in the morning can help, as it will not only give you energy throughout the day but it will keep you full long enough to prevent a second helping from working its way onto your plate.
Keeping the weight off during the holidays is no easy task, but with a little hard work, determination and ingenuity, you can keep that waistline slim and that heart healthy during the holiday season. More information concerning staying slim during Thanksgiving can be found on WebMD, while many great holiday health tips can be found here [http://www.associatedcontent.com/health_wellness/?content_type_id=5&cat=5]!
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