It's the Holiday Season!!

I know...we're supposed to say "Christmas," but I am referring to Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. Perhaps it is the hardest time of the year to maintain working out and eating a healthy diet. I understand. I lived that way for most of my life. I know you are going to eat. That's what our culture says to do during the holidays. People feel the need to bring all sorts of goodies to the office. We are bombarded with ads for great foods. We fellowship with friends and family and that means good food and lots of it. Most people say that they will "get back on my diet" after the first of the year. Didn't we do that last year too? How did that work?

I have been maintaining a significant weight loss for well over a year and have learned some things. The biggest thing I learned is that once I lost the weight, it was not over. I had to learn maintenance. There are lots of books on diets but very few, if any, on maintaining the weight loss. Most people gain their weight back. I am determined I will not gain the weight back but I have to still work at it. I learned that once I reached the goal, I couldn't quit. That's why I run.

Back to the holidays. I think the best approach to surviving the holiday season and all of it's tempting foods is to enjoy the holiday meals with family but stay away from so much of the goodies. Bring some goodies that is healthy to work as a substitute. Stay true to your healthy living. Once you say that you will get back on the diet after the first of the year, you will let yourself go and eat everything you see for a month. You will begin January 1 in the hole and mad at yourself. Don't do that!! Hang in there through the season. Also, continue to workout and in fact, increase your workouts. Extra working out will allow you to maintain through the season.  I am telling you that if you will do this, you will thank me come January 1!!

Merry Christmas!!!