Holiday tips

Happy belated Thanksgiving.

With one day of celebration behind us and the shopping season in full swing, we're looking forward to a month full of potential calorie, sugar, and carb-loaded treats, meals, and snacks. Cakes, pies, candy, big meals, drinks, and all kinds of delicious temptations are just days away. And let's be honest. Family, friends, and co-workers are going to offer you all of it. Sometimes, it's hard to say no without offending them. It's ok to indulge, as long as you do it within reason and keep your discipline with the rest of your time. So with all those temptations, here's a list of tips to help make some good, or at least better choices than stuffing yourself with food that's going to derail your efforts to stay fit.

• Keep your portions limited. You may be presented with some unhealthy choices you can't say no to, potentially many times a day, but keep your portions within your normal limits, no matter how tasty the options may be.
  
• Don't be afraid to decline an offer. If you see it offending the other person, offer to take a taste, and let them know you're on a diet. They'll be happy that you took them up on the offer and not be offended by taking a small portion.
• When food baskets show up at work, opt for the fruit or pass on taking anything from it.
• Chose to load up on the healthier foods (vegetables, chicken, turkey, etc.). It's better, plus you'll be less inclined to eat the less healthy food because you'll already be full.
• Offer to split dessert with somebody else
• Make time for exercise.
  
• If you're going to go shopping, park far away to take advantage of the extra walking.
• When nobody is looking, make really good dietary choices.
• Throw your own dinner party full of healthy food.
  
• Avoid the processed cheese and meats as much as possible.
• Drink a lot of water before meals to fill part of your stomach to control your portion size
• Increase your cardio to burn off the extra calories
• Keep your fitness goals somewhere you can see them everyday so you'll keep them on your mind.
• Opt for salads on your own meals to offset extra calories for unhealthy meals.

Good luck, and happy holidays.