#2 - It's Christmas, Not Foodmas

Who says the holidays have to be about food, anyway? Yes, the two have gone hand in hand ever since the Three Wise Men traveled the desert bearing fruitcake and s’mores (or something like that. . .), but that doesn’t mean it has to be that way. If you have some control over how your family celebrates the holidays, you can use that influence to lead your family and friends into activities that don’t involve food. It won’t keep your skinny pig of a brother from making quick dashes into the other room to stuff his face with more fudge, but it can’t at least take the focus off of eating and onto fun.

There are a plethora of things to do with your friends and family that don’t put food as the focus of the season. Taking things outside might be a good start. It seems to be a natural human fact that we eat less when we’re outdoors. And it is even more of a natural fact that we eat less if we’re engrossed in activities that require the use of our hands or mouths. No one wants to sit around and wait for someone to finish chewing before taking their turn in a game, after all. If you rouse up a really physical game, like some volleyball in the yard or something similarly active, there won’t be a chance for anyone to eat, and you’ll get your dose of exercise. Kill two birds with one stone, and you can take the day off from the gym! Now we’re talking REAL, right?

Of course, not everyone will cherish the idea of playing volleyball in three feet of snow (the humbugs), so there are plenty of activities that can be done within the warmth of the house and still keep your mind away from the thought of consuming calorie-rich food products. You could, for example, organize a marathon of holiday films to sit and watch (though this is a dangerous activity for those who tend to eat when the TV is on, so be wary of your weaknesses), or bring out the old Monopoly board. Yes, it will likely end with someone accusing someone else of cheating and hitting them in the head with that tiny metal shoe, but at least you won’t be getting fatter. Besides it will be something to laugh about next year, when the shoe thrower isn’t invited back.

» Continue Reading - Holiday Attack Plan:  How to Prevent Emotional Eating