The holidays are stressful, plain and simple. And how do we cope with stress? We eat! We overindulge and pay for it later in feelings of remorse and discouragement. The weight gain, the discomfort, and the plan to eliminate the weight later only extends the anxiety and provides us with post holiday stress as well.

There are ways to fend off this horrible holiday ritual of overindulging and regretting it later. Here are a few healthy holiday tips:

• Exercise. This helps relieve stress greatly; it also helps us keep our weight in check when there are so many high-calorie choices on the table. Walking, in particular, is a great stress reliever. It allows us to engage in cardiovascular and weight-bearing exercise while not working out too hard.

Of course you want to walk with purpose, and enough intensity to break a sweat, but you’ll have the ability to enjoy your surroundings, and walking partners (if you chose to walk with others), and process anything that is on your mind at a time when emotions run wild, whether you are happily excited or sadly depressed.

Walking truly is a remarkable remedy for everything from weight gain to sleepless nights. Make walking an everyday thing through the holidays, for a minimum of 30 minutes, a commitment, let it be your prescription for a happier, healthier holiday season.

• Do not save your calories for later by not eating all day before a holiday meal. This always backfires because you ultimately show up ravenous to a meal that is full of high calorie holiday goodies. Eat normally throughout the day, and instead of trying to manipulate and control your eating behavior, become more conscious about what you are doing and how you can manage the upcoming situation.

Think through what has happened in the past and what you would like this night to look like instead. You can write down what you would like the meal to look like and feel like and then commit to someone what you plan to eat (or not eat) at the meal. Once you have made your commitment, the pressure is off; you just eat what you have committed to and enjoy your meal. If you commit to not grazing and not eating more than one helping, or whatever the plan is, you can then enjoy the people that you are with, and have a much more satisfying holiday experience overall.

• Let yourself leave if you are uncomfortable, tired, or you have just had enough. Instead of lingering when bored, tired or uncomfortable, go home. If you stay in a situation longer than you really want to, the likelihood of eating and drinking more and more becomes greater and greater. Not overeating will allow you to stay connected to your feelings and your commitment.

I hope this helps you make this the most enjoyable holiday season ever,

Peace and Happy, Holiday Wishes to you,
Debbie Rocker
www.debbierocker.com

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