MO - December 2008 - (Page 15) your health matters GAY CIT Y HEALTH PROJECT Six Tips for Healthier Holiday Eating It’s the holiday season, and that means holiday food! There’s the ham your neighbor gave you, your partner’s amazing stuffing, and grandma’s delicious cookies! Food is an important part of many holidays, celebrations, and family traditions. Not surprising that many people gain some weight between Thanksgiving and the New Year. What’s to blame? Maybe it’s all the tempting treats so readily available, or the pressure from family and friends to overeat. Perhaps it’s the increased emotional eating, whether from holiday stress or holiday joy! Or possibly it’s our lack of discipline with eating and physical activity, in anticipation of the strict new plans and resolutions we’re going to start on January first. Regardless of the reason, it is not necessary to avoid holiday festivities in an attempt to maintain your weight. Consider these tips: • Focus on weight maintenance instead of weight loss during the holidays. If you are currently overweight and want to lose weight, the holidays are probably not the time to do it. Maintaining your present weight is a big enough challenge during the holiday season. Don’t set yourself up for failure by making unrealistic goals. • Try to be physically active every day. Often our busy holiday schedules interfere with regular exercise routines. Physical activity can help relieve stress, regulate appetite, and burn up extra calories from holiday eating. Walk briskly through the mall when you do that holiday shopping! • Consider eating a light snack before going to holiday parties. If you arrive at a party famished, you are more likely to overeat, and less likely to resist the temptation of eating the higher fat and higher calorie foods. Have a piece of fruit, a small carton of yogurt, or some low-fat string cheese before you go. • Choose your beverages wisely. Alcohol is high in calories. Liquors, sweet wines, and sweet mixed drinks can contain 150–450 calories per glass. By contrast, water and diet sodas are calorie-free. If you choose to drink, select light wines and beers, and use non-alcoholic mixers such as water and diet soda. And, watch out for empty calories in soda, fruit punch, and eggnog as well. • Enjoy good friends and family. Although food can be a big part of the season, it doesn’t have to be the focus. Holidays are a time to reunite with good friends and family, to share laughter and cheer, to celebrate and to give thanks. Focus on these other holiday pleasures, in addition to the tastes of holiday foods. The important thing to remember is balance and moderation. It’s OK to eat too much once in a while. Just relax, enjoy the holidays, and remember what the season is all about. • Keep things in perspective. Overeating one day won’t make or break your eating plan or fitness goals. If you over-indulge at a holiday meal, put it behind you and return to your regular eating plan the next day without guilt or despair. Despite what we often see in the media, there is not one correct size or correct appearance. Be yourself and enjoy your holidays! The mission at Gay City Health Project is to promote the health of gay and bisexual men and prevent HIV transmission by building community, fostering communication, and nurturing self-esteem. Visit www.gaycity.org for more information. Anonymous & FREE HIV Testing Call 206.860.6969 to make an appointment, or drop into Gay City at 511 E Pike, Seattle moseattle.com 15 issue 22 | december 2008 http://www.seattlemeds.com http://www.gaycity.org http://www.gaycity.org http://www.gaycity.org http://www.moseattle.com
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