Friday, November 27, 2009

Handling Holiday Feasting Regrets

Hopefully you don't have any regrets over how you spent your Thanksgiving holiday...presuming you are an American, or living in the USA...

After all, that was yesterday, and there is no point wallowing in thoughts of "if only" or "why did I?" Instead, enjoy with fondness the highlights of your day. Celebrations are a part of our lives and are to be enjoyed--before, during, and after!

But if you overdid it a bit...or more than a bit...with the feasting and festivities I do have a few tips for you on your weight loss journey.

If you ate a lot at one sitting...a very common behavior on this 4th Thursday of November...then you may find yourself a bit extra hungry today. On the other extreme, there are folks who ate so much they find themselves still full when they awaken on Black Friday...even if they don't get up at some unbelievable hour to hit the sales!

Another common feeling on the day after any feasting is to want more carbs...the devilish carb cravings can hit us hard when we've broken out of our usual pattern of eating.

The good news is no matter which of these maladies are striking you today, the solution is the same simple 3 steps:
  1. Don't think about what you did yesterday with regret. It is over, done, finished. Think about NOW.
  2. Eat lean protein with every meal today. Frequent mini-meals or snacks are your best bet. Having some left-over turkey is one good source!
  3. If you want to have other left-overs that are higher in simple carbs (like mashed potatoes and gravy, bread stuffing, rolls, or pumpkin pie) do so...just be sure to also have your protein first. This will help keep your blood sugar level, thereby reducing your carb cravings and keeping you from feeling famished.
If you follow these 3 steps you will be able to continue on your path to weight loss success, and you will have the long-term energy and health that you need--instead of a sugar-induced short-term rush!

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