Holiday Feasting… in Moderation!

We all looking forward to the feasts of the festive season! Spending time with loved ones, ripping into colorful wrapping paper, putting another log on the fire…and of course, mountains of delicious food! Whether it’s a turkey or a ham…we at Physiology Fitness Specialists know you’re planning on enjoying it all over the next week! And the great news is that you can! But enjoy in moderation.

How many times have you heard that statement? But the truth is; many of us gain body fat because we weren't eating or drinking in moderation.

Many of Physiology Fitness Specialists’ clients excuse their long weekend poor eating practices by planning rigorous training sessions or trying to stick to strict diets for the following week or so. Trust us, we understand the guilt factor! But excessive exercising - especially for somebody who hasn't done much in the past – often results in an injury, and that injury can make you less mobile and in turn increase the opportunity to gain body fat. Additionally, sudden changes in diet will send your body into reactionary mode, causing it to store fat. Gradual changes to your diet on the other hand, will not send signals to the body that is a starving, resulting in greater weight maintenance and weight loss results.

Here are some ways we incorporate moderation into our holiday celebrations;

• Browse all selections before dishing up for yourself. This will help you to plan your meal.
• Don’t fill more than half your plate with food. Our eyes often really do seem to be bigger than our stomachs…causing us to eat much more than we usually would.
  • If you’re still hungry later, you can go back. But it is always better to eat two small meals spaced apart than one huge one. Avoid the food coma!
• Select only a few of your usual favorites
  • or: Select only half portions of a wider variety of foods.
• Drink a glass of water before you eat. It will help to reduce your overall food consumption.
• Alternate your alcoholic or sugary drinks with a glass of water. The water will help to keep you hydrated, will support your new habit of moderation, and maybe help you stay a little more coherent (wink).

Making moderate changes to your food and exercise habits will in effect make it a lot easier for you to maintain your positive changes for a lot longer. Before you know it, these habits of moderation will become second nature and won't infringe on your lifestyle, or your enjoyment of the festive season!