November 16th. Christmas is still 5-1/2 weeks away and the photos of Christmas goodies are beginning to surface. The stores are fully stocked with baking supplies and some folks are already beginning to create their holiday specialties. And it's still 5-1/2 weeks away. Let the (over) eating and poor food choices roll.
Depending on their metabolic status, people have been known to gain anywhere from 2 to 15 pounds over the Christmas season. Remember... 5-1/2 weeks out and it's already here. A person with good insulin sensitivity can deck the food halls and gain very little weight, while someone on the other end of the spectrum, (such as an insulin resistant person) can easily eat far less but gain a significant amount of weight during the same time frame.
Physical activity appears to have no real bearing on this, so thinking that you will nosh out on 1200 calories of nog and cookies (which is VERY easy to do) then hit the gym and work it off is not a viable option. The expression "you can't out-train a bad diet" is never more true than at this time of the year. However, maintaining your workout schedule DOES have several other plusses, and may keep you mindful of your food intake among other benefits. Schedule time to work out, just realize that you cannot burn off what you can eat.
You can see this illustrated wonderfully by
Craig Ballantyne and friends. As you watch these short videos, keep in mind that some Christmas goodies are even MORE calorie dense than the foods that they show. Watch all 4 of the episodes... pretty hilarious and pretty mind blowing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQbuzsY_34Q
So, how will you handle it this year? Will you:
1. Throw caution to the wind and eat it, just eat it (Thanks for the visual, Weird Al)? Hide the scale for the next 6-ish weeks and just plan on trying to do some damage control in the new year?
2. Plan a moderate intake? Load up on shrimp and raw veg at the staff Christmas party? Only scoop one or two cookies from the plate in the lunch room? Flee from egg nog? CAUTION - often, this strategy ends up turning into strategy #1.
3. Hide in your house and not attend parties and functions? Yes... some people do this, and it's sad.
4. Try to create holiday foods that are NOT sugar and white flour based and completely devoid of nutrition?
Personally, I like a combination of numbers 2 and 4. Use the old raw veggie and shrimp trick (and possibly some old fashioned willpower) when the situation is beyond your control, such as a catered party. But, when entertaining at home, or when you can bring a dish to a party or function, you can take the opportunity to slide a healthier option in.
Remember, natural foods such as fruits, nuts, meat and vegetables ARE colourful on their own and can be delicious, nutritious, filling and will not cause a health damaging blood sugar spike nor likely lead to a food binge. Decorated cookies are no match for a spinach dip stuffed tomato when it comes to being pretty and festive.
Please share your recipes with me. As long as they conform to a paleo/primal regimen (no grain, soy or sugar) I will share them on my website.
Depending on their metabolic status, people have been known to gain anywhere from 2 to 15 pounds over the Christmas season. Remember... 5-1/2 weeks out and it's already here. A person with good insulin sensitivity can deck the food halls and gain very little weight, while someone on the other end of the spectrum, (such as an insulin resistant person) can easily eat far less but gain a significant amount of weight during the same time frame.
Physical activity appears to have no real bearing on this, so thinking that you will nosh out on 1200 calories of nog and cookies (which is VERY easy to do) then hit the gym and work it off is not a viable option. The expression "you can't out-train a bad diet" is never more true than at this time of the year. However, maintaining your workout schedule DOES have several other plusses, and may keep you mindful of your food intake among other benefits. Schedule time to work out, just realize that you cannot burn off what you can eat.
You can see this illustrated wonderfully by
Craig Ballantyne and friends. As you watch these short videos, keep in mind that some Christmas goodies are even MORE calorie dense than the foods that they show. Watch all 4 of the episodes... pretty hilarious and pretty mind blowing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQbuzsY_34Q
So, how will you handle it this year? Will you:
1. Throw caution to the wind and eat it, just eat it (Thanks for the visual, Weird Al)? Hide the scale for the next 6-ish weeks and just plan on trying to do some damage control in the new year?
2. Plan a moderate intake? Load up on shrimp and raw veg at the staff Christmas party? Only scoop one or two cookies from the plate in the lunch room? Flee from egg nog? CAUTION - often, this strategy ends up turning into strategy #1.
3. Hide in your house and not attend parties and functions? Yes... some people do this, and it's sad.
4. Try to create holiday foods that are NOT sugar and white flour based and completely devoid of nutrition?
Personally, I like a combination of numbers 2 and 4. Use the old raw veggie and shrimp trick (and possibly some old fashioned willpower) when the situation is beyond your control, such as a catered party. But, when entertaining at home, or when you can bring a dish to a party or function, you can take the opportunity to slide a healthier option in.
Remember, natural foods such as fruits, nuts, meat and vegetables ARE colourful on their own and can be delicious, nutritious, filling and will not cause a health damaging blood sugar spike nor likely lead to a food binge. Decorated cookies are no match for a spinach dip stuffed tomato when it comes to being pretty and festive.
Please share your recipes with me. As long as they conform to a paleo/primal regimen (no grain, soy or sugar) I will share them on my website.
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