Avoiding the Festive 15

In my previous post, I discussed how to avoid stressing during the holidays. But stress isn't the only thing that is easy to accumulate during the holidays, for everyone knows about the festive fifteen. The fifteen pounds that people gain during holiday gatherings and parties. So how can you avoid that dreadful weight gain? I recently read an article on ways to avoid weight gain during the Christmas and New Year season. However, following those tasks aren't as easy as they may sound.

The article mentions to be picky about what you eat. Yeah it sounds easy; just don't take what you don't absolutely want. However, I know how hard that is. Every year I try to eat less, so that I don't feel sick later in the day. It's not that easy. I always end up with too much, and I can't help but to eat it and still go back for seconds and maybe a small dessert. I justify it by say that it only happens twice a year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I let myself over eat. But then I feel horrible later. I need to tell myself that just because it is the holiday season, doesn't mean that I can eat whatever I want. It is unhealthy and unnecessary.

My way of avoiding eating an excessive amount of food may sound cliché; however it has worked so far this year. Because I know that I eat way too much each year, I decided that this year I would try something to avoid this. I have goals and I use those to my advantage. I know that when track season rolls around I will want to be in the best shape possible and eating too many holiday goodies won't help me get there. So, I look to my inspirations. I look at famous track stars or other health and fitness blogs whenever I want to binge, or right before a holiday gathering. I realize that I don't want to throw away what I work for during the early winter for a few sweet treats. So before I grab something to eat I see those inspirations in the back of my mind and refrain.

The point is that it does take an intense amount of will power to avoid gaining during the winter season, but it's not an impossible task. Keeping your goals and inspirations in mind when you are around food can be enough, it is for me. Now that doesn't mean that you should completely refrain from everything, you are still allowed to splurge a little bit. Just be careful and know your limits. Make this holiday one to remember, and not because you gained 15 pounds, but because you had a blast not having to fear stepping on the scale the next morning.

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