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A "C'mon, It's the Holidays!" Kind of Day
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[Scene:]
It's mid-December and you're getting ready to head in to work. Lately you've been really consistent about getting in a morning workout, but today you've decided to skip it--you want to get to your desk early because you have a pile of work to get through before you leave early for the day so you can hit a client's holiday party on the way home. Skipping a workout here and there... it's no big deal--it's the holidays, right?
The drive in is cold... and dark... and the idea of a hot drink and the warm-coziness of your local Starbucks makes the morning feel a little more celebratory. As you stand in line waiting to order your drink you think, "Gingerbread latte? Well, you can't get that in the middle of June! I'm going to treat myself-it's the holidays, right?" But, being the conscious health warrior that you are, you skip the whipped cream and pat yourself on the back.
Once at work you keep yourself energetic and clear-headed by sticking to your well-honed habits for food and water and, while you skip the peanut brittle on the Administrative Assistant's desk, twice you swing by and take a big handful of roasted almonds. It's not what you'd normally do, but... it's the holidays, right?
As you head out of the office to stop by your client's holiday party, you commit to yourself that you're not going to over-indulge. Just a quick stop in, a couple of bites to eat and you'll head home to dinner. Once at the party, you grab a glass of wine and a plate with a couple of cheese cubes and some crackers. That'll tide you over. You skip a second glass of wine (it messes with your sleep anyway) and have seltzer instead, engage in some small talk, and you hit the road. You're impressed with how well you've honored your commitment to yourself.
Not bad, eh? You've done a pretty darn good job amidst the minefield of holiday treats. Well done!
...so, where is that holiday "muffin top" (you know, the part of your belly that's starting to creep over your pants) coming from?
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The Muffin Top Facts
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You have done well. And that "muffin top"? Well, it's the perfect example of how small things can add up.
Here's the scoop: one pound of fat is approximately 3500 calories. That means, if you eat 3500 calories more than you burn, you're going to put on weight. Let's look at your "C'mon, it's the holidays!" day:
- You skipped your morning workout, so you're missing your 300-500 calorie"buffer"
- 16 oz Gingerbread latte (2% milk, no whipped cream) = 250 calories
- Two handfuls of roasted almonds (about 1/4 cup each) = 430 calories
- One glass of red wine = 120 calories
- Four one-inch cubes of cheese and four club crackers = 346 calories
Grand total of muffin-top-expanding calories? 1026.
DANG! Two more days like that and you can add one more pound to the Holiday Muffin Top. ...and how many days are there between Thanksgiving and New Year's? |
Holiday Hermit?
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I feel the sag in your spirit as you gently pinch your Holiday Muffin Top and wonder if the only answer is to become a holiday hermit. Naw--the holidays are for celebrating and part of the celebration is food and beverage! Life isn't "all or nothing" and neither should your approach to Muffin Top Management. Here are some ideas on taking an approach that honors you and your goals as well as the season:
- Keep Moving. If you don't have time for a scheduled work out, get up from your desk and walk around the building. Park farther from the door. Take the stairs. Small things add up on this end of the equation too!
- Be Aware. Know what the high calories ticket items are and decide if they are something you're really going to enjoy or just eat. Check out nutritiondata.com for a great database of foods and their nutritional content.
- Ask the Right Questions. "Do I really want that?," "How will I feel if I eat/drink that?," and "Could I have less and still feel satisfied?"
- Be Kind. To you, that is. Self-battery is fuel for the "why should I try at all?" fire. Don't fan those flames. Do your best, honor your health as the asset it is, and allow yourself the deference of your own self-kindness.
Happy Holidays!
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