Happy Halloween!
All sorts of goblins and gremlins come out tonight. Some will leave their costumes behind tomorrow, but appetite gremlins that arrive in the form of candy and other holiday temptations will stick around until January. What can you do to foil the appetite gremlins that haunt your holiday season?
One step is to throw away candy. Yes, you paid for it, but the best way to protect something more valuable than money — your health — is to throw it away.
Most people can’t beat the appetite gremlins by willpower alone. Here are some choices you can make to keep the appetite gremlins from leaving you with a holiday gift that’s not on anybody’s wish list: surplus fat.
Now Would Be a Good Time for Appetite Correction
If you haven’t adjusted to an appetite correcting eating schedule like Fast-5, you still have time to start. Once you’ve started, it’s okay to have skip days now and then to dine with family and friends. If every day’s a feast day, you can’t avoid fat, but if you’re on schedule most days, you can enjoy the big days without guilt or permanent weight gain.
If you’re on a keto diet, it can be tough to stay on track during the holidays. Switching to an appetite correcting eating schedule like Fast-5 (or combining the two) can help you get through the holidays with more liberal carb intake while still avoiding weight gain.
Idle Hands Grab Snacks
Pick a project that can keep your hands busy during your leisure time. Find something you like doing and give yourself a completion deadline of January 2. Any time you find yourself soaking up screen time, redirect your attention to your project. You can’t pick up snacks when your hands are full. If you don’t have a hobby, now’s a good time to pick one up. What would you like to get your hands on?
- Drawing?
- Painting?
- Woodwork?
- Needle work?
- Knitting?
- Model/kit building?
- Sewing?
- Writing a novel, screenplay or song?
- Reading a paper book? (Libraries still have lots of them!)
- Jigsaw puzzles?
- Outdoor clean up and yard work?
- Car maintenance?
- Garage clean-up?
Fun time with family and friends is an important part of a healthy diet. Avoid the on-screen football binge-trance and play a game of your own (reindeer optional). If the weather outside is frightful, fire up an indoor game! Would you like to play:
- a card game?
- a board game? An old classic or a new one? Check out the bestsellers on Amazon.
- a many-player screen game like QuipLash or Fibbage?
Make a Plan That Fits You
Imagine that in January you’re feeling great and not trying to sweat off weight you gained over the holidays. What’s the biggest, most important step? Make a plan. Write it down. Start now, so it’s routine before the heavy-eating holidays. Make yourself a reminder that you see every day from now until January 2. You know your appetite gremlins better than anyone. What steps will you take to avoid overeating?
