surviving the holidays

the holidays are upon us, and for people on a diet, that can be bad news indeed. but here are some things i learned (after surviving thanksgiving):

• you don't have to completely deprive yourself of all holiday food. you'll just feel bad.
  
• but it doesn't mean you can stuff your face with all the rich calorie-laden food you can get your hands on either. it's ok to get a slice of pecan pie, but it is not ok to eat the whole pie.
  
• get a small portion of everything you want to eat. but don't go back for seconds.
  
• eat some salad before you eat anything else. that way you'll feel slightly full before you face the lasagne, baked stuffing, ham, fondue, cakes, etc.
  
• stay away from alcohol, it only adds unnecessary calories, and it won't fill you up. it'll also make your metabolism sluggish.
• if you can, stick with water. avoid juice and any drink high in sugar.
  
• if you're preparing the food, try to cook healthier versions of your favorite holiday food. you can use artificial sweeteners instead of sugar, use butter substitutes and healthier oils, substitute wholemeal bread for white bread, wholewheat pasta instead of semolina. sadly, there is no healthy version of gravy.
  

if all else fails, don't beat yourself up over a night of indulgence. just get back on track the next day. double your exercise routine if it makes you feel less guilty. =)