ShareThisFriends, we've embarked on the annual dietary danger zone. We just had Halloween, and then it's Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Fat Tuesday, Easter -- and that's the short list.
The good news is that most people don't gain a lot over the holidays -- maybe a pound or so, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. But that weight usually stays on.
An even bigger problem may be the weight of holiday emotion and stress. No wonder we're all ready to bite the ears off a chocolate bunny, come spring.
Joanne Lichten (Dr. Jo to her fans) isn't a medical doctor, but she earned a doctorate from Texas A&M studying how to help people make healthy changes. She's a registered dietitian and author of several books.
She called from Orlando, Fla., recently to talk about getting through the holidays -- and even enjoying them. Her main message: "I just want people to get off the roller coaster of diets and learn how to make small little changes that turn them in the direction of health without feeling deprived.''
Some examples to try:
-- "Why does everything have to be about food -- and TV?'' she said. "I go to people's houses at the holidays and they're all watching TV. Why not take a walk together?''
-- "Make an excuse to get up and evaluate your stomach'' during a big meal. Don't wait until the end to realize you've overdone it.
-- "Never, ever give up your favorites. For me it's brownies and chocolate-chip ice cream, but I eat it out of espresso cups so I can have it every day.''
-- "Play with your food. If you like apples, but not the crust, just eat the apples in the pie.''
-- If you regularly overeat to the point of being stuffed, "figure out what you're hungering for, and understand food is never going to give it to you. Journal your feelings, get a counselor.''
-- "Take a nap. Often we eat because we're tired.'
-- "Have a fit. Speak up about your emotions, journal about your feelings, punch a pillow.''
And my personal favorite:
-- Don't worry about the next occasion, or getting ready for it. "Enjoy the moment, enjoy the laughter, enjoy the company.''
(Charlotte Sutton can be reached at Sutton(at)sptimes.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)
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