Why you should NOT worry about weight gain during the holidays
Yes, I said it. Weight gain during the holidays should NOT be the first thing on your mind. Statistically, most Americans will gain 7-10 pounds between Halloween and the New Year because high calorie foods are more available at home, in the office or at family gatherings. Candy, cookies, and baked goods pile up and the site and smell may be too much temptation. However, no one said you have to eat it. No one is force feeding you. You may feel a twinge of guilt saying no to Grandma’s fruit cake, but what’s more important, your health or your expanding waistline?
Every year we put out articles about recipe modifications, recommend eating smaller portions, or promote a morning workout before you feast. Basically, any strategy that would lessen the impact of holiday overeats. This year, we are not doing ANY of that! Instead, I’m here to remind you, ITS ONE DAY OF THE YEAR so go ahead and eat whatever you want!
Life is short and spending the holidays eating our favorite foods only happens a few times a year. We know every November, we have Thanksgiving. And every December we have Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza. Followed by New Year’s Eve. This shouldn’t be a surprise, yet every season people freak out because they’re afraid of gaining weight. Why? Because they forget these are holiDAYS and not holiWEEKS. If we focus on celebrating the day, there should be nothing to worry about. Remember you can say no to second helpings. Or say no to taking home leftovers. Or say no to everything and spend the day feeding people in a shelter. There are no rules except the ones you set for yourself, and that includes setting limits on the foods you eat.
Here is an example of a typical Thanksgiving dinner:
1. 4 ounces turkey: 150 calories
2. ½ cup cranberry relish: 120 calories
3. ½ cup bread stuffing: 180 calories
4. ½ cup turkey gravy: 60 calories
5. ½ cup green bean casserole: 90 calories
6. 4 ounces red wine: 100 calories
7. 1 slice pumpkin pie: 300 calories
GRAND TOTAL: 1000 calories
Logically, will one 1000 calorie meal make a HUGE impact on your waistline? Absolutely not! Even if you eat a normal breakfast and lunch, this one meal may cause you to gain a few pounds of water weight, but it’s not enough to cause you to gain fat! Think about this, if your daily calorie needs are 1800 calories for weight maintenance, and you eat 800 calories between breakfast and lunch, then this 1000 calorie meal will leave you at net zero. Even if you had TWO slices of pie and added an extra 300 calories, a quick workout before dinner would take care of that extra piece of pie. EVEN if you skipped the workout and decided to have THREE slices of pie, you’re only in excess by 600 calories! It takes an excess of 3500 calories to gain one pound of fat. Any weight you see the next morning is 99.9% water weight. Now, if you continue to eat like this for 6 more days, that’s a different story!
Please remember this story when you sit down for Thanksgiving dinner. Eat, enjoy and relax. One meal will not cause a 10-pound weight gain. Even if you have weight loss goals, maybe only eat your favorite foods and leave Grandma’s fruit cake alone. Whatever you do, don’t stress about weight gain during the holidays. Spend your energy on your friends, food and most importantly, your family!