Photo by Danilo Rizzuti via freedigitalphotos.net
Pamela was not looking forward to heading back to the office after Thanksgiving. It wasn’t the work or the coworkers. She loved them. It was the 10 pounds that she was convinced she gained last year from eating the holiday treats at the office. She had always had problems with sweets and her weight. This year she had finally lost 25 pounds. It was an amazing accomplishment for her and she was afraid that the holidays treats at the office woukd get the best of her again. She had worked so hard to lose each and every pound. The last thing she wanted was to gain any of them back.
Like Pamela, many people find it challenging to stick to a healthy eating plan when co-workers or clients are constantly bringing holiday treats. Don’t fear though because even though holiday treats like chocolates, cookies, candies and cakes might tempt you, there are some tricks to help you resist.
How can I resist the holiday treats?
Here are 4 things you can do to take control of the holiday treat situation:
- Plan ahead: Bring healthy snacks to work, such as fresh fruit or veggies and eat them when you get hungry. You will be less likely to binge on unhealthy treats when you are not hungry.
- Start a healthy trend: Bring fruit or hummus with veggies to the office instead of baked goods. You would be surprised how many people find the opportunity to eat something healthier refreshing. Other people might even follow suit and bring healthy treats to work as well.
- Out of site, out of mind: If you can, place the holiday treats out of your sight. If you don’t see them, you will be less tempted by them.
- Say no to food pushers: No matter how hard your co-workers try to make you feel guilty for not eating the sweets they brought, stay strong. Don’t let them tempt you or make you feel guilty about eating healthy. Just politely say “No, thank you,” and walk away from the situation.
The bottom line:
You should not let the holidays destroy the healthy diet you have worked so hard to maintain. With a little planning you can eat healthy this season. And remember it is okay to indulge in a treat, occasionally. You don’t let the holidays make you lose control. Moderation is the key during the holidays, just as it is all year round.