Edited by Sophia Savva
The holidays are a truly magical time: twinkly lights, cute winter clothes, snow. But if you’re anything like me, it’s the promise of holiday treats that keeps you pushing through the semester: warm cups of hot chocolate, homemade shortbread cookies, gingerbread houses.
It’s no wonder come January, we promise ourselves we’ll hit the gym everyday, if only to make ourselves feel less guilty about all those indulgences, and the holiday weight we might have gained. But before you resign yourself to a January full of guilt, take a look at some of these tips to help you have a healthier winter season – without sacrificing your favorite treats! With these tips, you’ll have less trouble bouncing back to a healthier lifestyle this winter semester.
Limit yourself to one or two treats per day
I find that if I don’t provide myself with any kind of guidelines, my “screw it, it’s the holidays” attitude kicks in, and I end up going in for thirds. So try to set yourself a reasonable limit for each occasion. Maybe you’ll only have two drinks at that holiday work party, or will stop at one sugar cookie instead of trying one of every color! By building this habit, you’ll find that it will be easier to moderate your stress eating come midterm time.
Eat on smaller plates
This trick actually works! Eating your meals on smaller plates helps with portion control. I mean, there are only so many helpings of green bean casserole you can pack onto a salad plate. Plus, trying to eat smaller portions on a larger dinner plate will leave the plate looking empty and sad, and you may feel obligated to fill it if only to make it less obvious that you’re watching what you’re eating.
Drink water before you start eating
Having a tall glass of water before your meal will help take the edge off of how hungry you are, and fill your stomach up a bit, and that way, you may end up eating less than you otherwise would have. Plus, drinking lots of water will help keep you healthy, and is great for your skin!
Wait 20 min before going in for seconds
The holidays are a time when we try all kinds of mystery casseroles and those homemade Pinterest recipes that you finally have the time to get around to making. It can be hard to stop at one plate, but before reaching for the next serving, wait a little bit of time to see if you really are still hungry before diving in. It takes a bit of time before your brain gets the signals that your stomach is full, so it might need some time to catch up. Otherwise, you may risk overeating, and giving yourself a stomachache.
Don’t beat yourself up if you break the rules
All of the tips I have described above are simply suggestions for how to enjoy the winter season (and its leftovers) without overeating. But everybody slips up, and we can’t be perfect all the time. Slipping up once or twice doesn’t mean you have to throw in the towel, either. Just because you had one too many servings of leftovers doesn’t mean you can’t start fresh the next day and try to eat a little better! Life’s all about balance, and that includes this winter semester. Everything in moderation!
Photo Credits
http://www.emme-magazine.com/2013/12/04/host-a-christmas-cookie-exchange-party/
https://www.thespruce.com/easy-vegan-bruschetta-recipe-3378349
https://www.tripsavvy.com/vancouver-christmas-lights-3371063