Hey there! It’s time for my yearly reminder/warning/pep talk about holiday weight gain! Yay! With Canadian Thanksgiving coming up this weekend, I wanted to take a moment to remind you of the good news and the bad news about holiday weight gain. The GOOD news is that the average gain between Thanksgiving and the New Year (which people seem to believe is around 5 lbs) is exaggerated. Most people actually gain 1 to 2 pounds over the holiday season. The BAD news is that that weight is usually never lost again. So, while a pound or two might not feel like much right now, year after year, that weight adds up! Studies now suggest that "holiday weight gain" may be an important contributor to the rising obesity epidemic.
That doesn’t mean you should stress and worry about what you eat over the holidays. Please don’t! Part of the joy of special occasions is sharing meals with friends and family. But having a bit of a plan might not be a bad idea, right? That way, you can relax and enjoy yourself and still be able to button your jeans on January 2nd. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you enjoy all the various festivities between now and then:
Drink plenty of water.
Move your body. Try to get out for a walk, run, bike or swim most days or do whatever type of exercise you ENJOY and make it a regular part of your life.
Watch portion sizes. I know that seems obvious, but really start paying attention to how much you put on your plate. Try taking a little less than you normally would and then see if you're still hungry. I bet you're not.
Use a smaller plate! Simple. You'll eat less.
Before you reach for a treat, ask yourself if you really want it and if it’s really worth the extra calories/sugar/fat. If you DO and it IS, then ENJOY! If you don’t/it isn’t, then walk away! (I'm looking at you Cute, Little Halloween Coffee Crisp!)
Eat more vegetables! (Always. Every day.)
It all pretty much boils down to eating mindfully. Slow down, taste your food, enjoy it, relax and listen to your what your body is telling you...ideally before it's screaming "Stop! I'm stuffed!!".
If you feel like you'd like to learn more about healthy eating and healthy weight loss, come on out for one of my Healthy Eating for Life groups. I have a new session starting in two weeks. The details are below.
Please send me an email or use the “Contact” form on this website to book your spot. All meetings happen at my office in Lunenburg and I keep the groups small - so spaces are limited. Feel free to contact me with any and all questions!
Healthy Eating for Life
This 10 week group program focuses on learning how to make changes to your diet and lifestyle that will result in long-lasting, sustainable weight loss. It’s not a diet. It’s an education program that will empower you to confidently make choices that will improve your overall health, help you shed unwanted pounds and build a foundation of good health for the rest of your life. The weekly one-hour meetings will include:
• An informative presentation on nutrition, with a different topic each week, but always with a focus on weight loss.
• Group support.
• Weekly weigh-in (optional).
• Group discussion and question & answer time.
• Loads of support, motivation and positive, straight-forward advice!
• Binder of program materials.
• Food Diary - to be reviewed by me each week, with personal feedback provided.
• Simple, delicious recipes.
Tuesdays 9:30AM - 10:30AM
October 24th - January 2nd
Fee $175