5 Simple Solutions to Stay on Course While Still Enjoying Yourself During The Holiday Season  By Michael Collins

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Tis’ the season… for some awful suggestions from the TV food police.

 

The holiday season is in full swing and it is once again time for the food patrol to make their rounds.

 

You’ll see them swarming everywhere; from Good Morning America to daytime talk shows to the evening news.

 

You’ll know them by the familiar perky smile and cute red sweaters. 

 

They pop up in the 5 minute guest spots all over the place, pointing out what’s wrong with America’s eating habits.

 

Too much sugar in this, too much fat in that...

 

And they have some real nifty ideas for substitutions we can use to defeat the fat monster on Thanksgiving day.

 

Let me round up some of the real gems I’ve seen this week…

• Celery sticks instead of stuffing

• Calorie- free gelatin with fat free whipped topping instead of pumpkin pie

• Zucchini with lemon instead of corn bread

Rest assured cheery food weasel, I WONT be at your house for dinner.

 

C’mon now, do we really think they’re eating this stuff while everyone else is gobbling down turkey and stuffing?

 

Here’s the deal. Yes, America’s eating habits are horrendous. That’s a given. But do we really believe we’re going to change the eating habits of a nation during the holidays? Are we really going to start eating like a fitness competitor a few days out from a competition; on Thanksgiving???

 

Nobody wants to add 10 lbs. during the holidays but there are better ways of taking care of business.

 

Here are some simple solutions to stay on course while still enjoying yourself

 

1) If you’re worried about hammering down too many calories, eat off of a salad plate. By eating off of a salad plate, it will bring to your attention how much you’re really eating and you’ll be able to catch yourself.

 

2) Slow down while you’re eating! The chemical messenger that signals the brain that you're full takes about 15 minutes. 

 

3) Concentrate on enjoying the taste and texture of your food instead of shoveling it all down.

 

4) Eat some grapefruit before the feast - grapefruit contains an essential oil in the rind that has been shown to reduce hunger drastically. 

 

1 medium sized grapefruit will also dampen cravings for sweets and the fiber will fill you up a bit, allowing you to make wiser choices- and be fulfilled with less fattening foods.

 

5) Another option is eating a green apple, which also has a chemical in its skin which reduces hunger, and also has pectin, which forms a gel in the gut that helps to stabilize blood sugar.

 

As a matter of fact, we conducted a little informal research with our clients to test the results of green apples for weight loss. Click here to check out the success of one of my clients on a big night out.

 

By the way, if you think the green apple project is cool, there's plenty more cool tricks in Black Book of Secrets! 

 

Having one or both of these craving- stopper fruits about half- hour before the meal is served will dramatically reduce the amount of food you eat, while allowing yourself to enjoy your favorite holiday foods.

 

In the end, you’ll be much more satisfied during the holidays by eating that 1 smaller slice of pumpkin pie than a boatload of celery sticks and gelatin. Stick THAT in your stocking!

 

BTW, think Turkey makes you tired? Think again, as Eugene wrote, what truly causes the post-Thanksgiving dinner induced delirium is three-fold

 

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 Michael Collins