The holiday season brings with it more socializing, office get togethers, family parties with wonderful calorie-packed meals, goodies, candy and treats. How does a gal of a certain age stay slim and still enjoy all the holidays have to offer?
One of the best strategies is to focus on maintaining your current weight and staying healthy. This is not the time to embark on a drastic weight loss program, zealous core exercise program or become a hermit to avoid temptations.
A game plan for the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas? Focus on two key holiday survival tactics…. and enjoy yourself!
- Tune into your Hunger – Next time you sit down to a festive meal or pass a co-workers desk laden with treats, pause for a few seconds before you start eating, and ask yourself one simple question: How hungry am I? If you aren't- pass on by. Weight loss after menopause is hard enough, why make it worse by eating when you aren't physiologically hungry?
- Move more – No time or interest in exercise or a visit to the gym? With time at a premium during the holidays, simply increasing your daily physical activity will help deduct calories from your day and balance the extra goodies you can’t resist, along with giving you energy to finish your shopping early.
Easy ways to move more? Walk to the rest room on a different floor of your office, use TV commercial time to march in place, or park near the entrance to the mall farthest away from the store you are planning to shop (and don’t take the elevators!).
Losing weight after menopause doesn't have to mean you forgoe all the fun and frivolity of the holidays. Whatever strategies you choose , relax, socialize and enjoy the atmosphere. After all, that's what holidays are for.