Dr. Donnica's Top Tips for Healthful Holiday Weight Management

While most of us aren't concerned about how much we eat today, many of us need to be  concerned about weight management as we enter into this holiday season.  Here are some tips:

First, Rome wasn't built in a day and neither were your thighs.  Don't blame weight problems on a Thanksgiving binge.  Likewise, now is not the time to start a five week "I've got to fit into that outfit by New Year's Eve" crash diet; it won't work but it will make the holidays unduly stressful.  Make small changes this holiday season that you can adapt into a bigger health and weight management plan come New Year's Resolution time.  For starters, drink more water in lieu of high-sugar containing beverages (e.g. sodas or juices); drink lite beer instead of regular; or drink a white wine spritzer instead a regular glass of wine.  Sparkling water is a great substitute for alcoholic beverages at parties, especially if you're driving. 

Turkey is lean and healthy (especially the white meat):  it is the skin and the trimming that will get you.  Send the gravy boat sailing by and pass on the butter.  Load up instead on relatively low fat side-dishes.  When it comes to left-overs tomorrow, cut up your turkey into a salad instead of drowning it in gravy or putting it on a sandwich. 

There's no reason that you have to skip dessert; you just don't have to eat full-servings of each choice! 

And Moms:  just as there is no rule that says that kids have to clean their plates. . .there is no rule that you have to eat whatever they've left over.

Finally: focus on the true meaning of the holidays. Holiday spirit is not defined by consuming massive quantities of food and drink, but by being thankful for the bounties which we share. The original Thanksgiving celebrated harvest, not consumption; it celebrated friendship over feast.  It celebrated the Pilgrims being healthy and alive.   For this we can still be very thankful.

Created: 11/27/2003  -  Donnica Moore, M.D.