Most everything about the holidays is about food. Sure, there are lots of family gatherings, parties with old and new acquaintances, skiing, fireplaces, flights and airports, lots of laundry, and stress, but mostly holidays are about food. As a result, statistics show that most Americans gain weight during the holidays: somewhere from 0.4 to 5 pounds. Interestingly, overweight adults tend to gain more weight than people with normal weight.
Most people don’t have the willpower to resist the temptation of familiar tastes. Sweet, sour, greasy, crunchy, chocolaty, minty, alcohol: we serve our common temptations and then can’t stop eating. Cold weather doesn’t help. People crave sugary foods when they are cold. What can be better than a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows? Not sleeping enough and feeling tired also stimulates the appetite for calorie-dense foods. Snacking on nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and dark chocolate seems like a healthy thing to do, but those also are full of calories. The worst part is the guilt feeling and the remorse. Socializing for the sake of socialization without overeating and drinking is not easy but is possible. After having some appetizers, walk around with a bottle of water, or have sparkling water in a large wine glass. And maybe it’s too late to say this—but the only way to stop after one cookie is to avoid that first cookie. A tangerine is the best way to finish a meal. Just perfect sweetness. Evenings might be cold but during the day it is beautiful and warm. Ask a friend for a walk, a bike ride or a long hike. That will be your holiday gift to your heart.
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