Beating the Scales

I remember an SNL sketch from a long time ago, in which a psychiatrist said, "Alcoholism is a three part disease: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's." Well, so is obesity. Statistics vary, however researchers believe that we gain anywhere from eight to 20 pounds over the holidays. When the season ends and we return to our regular eating habits, we keep about 10 percent of what we gained. When I say "keep," I mean as in "forever." Despite these sobering findings, there are a few things that you can do to keep the pounds off this holiday season.

Start by planning to travel healthily. Whether you are flying or taking a road trip, here are a few rules that will help keep you slim. After you have filled your tank up with gas, do not run into the store and buy a lot of unhealthy foods and sugary sodas. In fact, do not buy any soda at all. If you feel you absolutely must keep something to eat and drink in the car, purchase bottled water and healthy breakfast bars. I prefer South Beach and Fiber One bars. South Beach bars are high in protein and Fiber One bars are, you guessed it, high in fiber. By avoiding sugary sodas and highly caffeinated diet sodas, you forego the roller coaster ride that comes with sugar highs (and lows) and caffeine jitters (and crashes). Just drink water.

Once you have reached your destination and it is time to celebrate the season in the form of an elaborate meal, be sure to eat the appetizers. You are probably thinking to yourself, "Oh, Garon, that is counterproductive. I'm trying to lose weight." Let me explain it this way. Two years ago, I was the executive chef in charge of my family's Thanksgiving dinner. I planned the perfect menu, complete with rosemary-roasted vegetables, potato salad with a white wine and Dijon dressing, and a duck confit. The problem was that dinner was served almost two hours late, and I had no appetizers to serve. When everyone sat down to eat, we were so starved that we overate - I mean we gorged to the point of being in pain. The following year, I learned my lesson and prepared a couple of appetizers for people to nibble on while waiting for dinner. I had pots of Italian wedding soup and a sausage dip prepared so that everyone could snack before dinner. Dinner once again ran late, but this time we were able to eat our meal and actually enjoy it. Furthermore, we did not overeat to the point of being handicapped. So, if you feel yourself becoming hungry, nibble on the appetizers even if they are a little on the unhealthy side. You will probably take in fewer calories by having a small bite of an unhealthy appetizer than if you starve and are a glutton when the meal is served.

Finally, be prepared to exercise over the holidays. Since I have started losing weight, the one thing that I hear most often (and the thing that most annoys me) is when people say, "I can't do that unless I'm in the gym," or "I don't like running unless it is on the treadmill." I even had one person ask me about running, and when I told her to just get out there and let her feet hit the pavement, she responded by saying, "I can't jog unless I'm on a track." Really? Exercise is something that you can do almost anywhere. Try doing this. Walk for 30 minutes around your neighborhood before each meal. If you are staying with a friend's family, just do a few stretches, push-ups, and crunches when you are in your room alone. No one will ever know what you are doing. By planning ahead, eating moderately, and trying to take in exercise wherever you visit, you might even find that you lose weight this holiday season.