There is nothing more frustrating that trying to lose those pesky last 10 pounds. Believe me, I know. This is my third ride around the weight loss merry-go-round and I can’t wait to get off.
I reached my goal weight the first time, reached it once again after having my oldest son, and now here we are again after baby number two. Believe it or not, Jacob is officially a toddler now and just turned one last week!
I’m not going to lie, it has been much harder losing the weight the third time around. Between hitting the gym five days a week and keeping our diet clean and colorful, I’ve very slowly lost close to 50 pounds over the last 12 months. Slowly being the operative word.
With just 10 pounds left to goal, there is no way I’m going to let the endless temptations of the holidays stop me from reaching my happy weight. I’ve done it twice, I’ll do it a third time.
Whether you’re looking to get a head start on New Year’s resolutions or simply want to have more energy and feel more comfortable in your own skin, here are 9 Secrets to Maintaining Your Waistline Over the Holidays:
Hit the Mall: Look, I love online shopping as much as the next gal. But if you must hit the shopping mall, take advantage of the opportunity to add a couple of thousand steps to your day. Even better? Park your car at the end of the lot for even more of a calorie burn.
Pack Travel Snacks: Flying to visit the grandparents or have a long car ride to the in-laws? Plan ahead and pack a few healthy snacks for the journey. Homemade granola bars, mixed nuts, and fresh fruit are almost always in my diaper bag or purse when I hit the road.
Fill Up on Protein: I’m not going to lie: I love carbs. Warm crusty bread and olive oil? Yes, please. But, the problem with carbs alone is that they don’t keep me full which is why I always try to fill my plate with protein. Sabra hummus is always in our fridge for an added protein boost – spread it on your sandwich instead of mayo or mix it with quinoa to make Hummus Quinoa Cakes, an easy weeknight dinner. Lucky for me, my toddler is a huge fan and has been known to eat a whole tub in one sitting…
BYO Healthy Dishes to Share: Speaking of hummus, one of my best tips for surviving the hectic entertaining season is to bring your own healthy dish to share. Hummus and veggies, a hearty whole-grain salad or a side of roasted veggies are always welcome at holiday gatherings and provide a nice balance to the 1000th piece of fudge.
Make Your Calories Count: When you find yourself standing in front of the buffet or at the dessert table, I encourage you to use the Two Bite Rule: take two bites and decide if it’s worth the calories. If it’s not, simply leave it on your plate. You don’t have to finish it just because you started it.
Be Wary of Food Pushers: You know that friend or relative who pushes food and simply won’t be satisfied until you’re neck-deep in another piece of manicotti or a third slice of cake? Me too. Don’t be afraid to say “no thank you” and when in doubt, try moving to another room in the house or changing the subject. While Aunt Ingrid means well, she’s probably living in stretch pants.
Don’t Drink Your Calories: We all probably know that peppermint mochas and eggnog lattes aren’t the best for our waistlines but it goes beyond that. When you drink your calories, your body doesn’t register them the same way it registers calories from food. As a result, you crave more and more because your body doesn’t feel full and you likely don’t get any long-lasting energy.
Create Non-Food Traditions: Now that I have a family of my own, I’m looking forward to creating new traditions that don’t revolve around food. For example, every Thanksgiving we write letters to the troops overseas so that they receive cards in time for Christmas. It’s something fun that we can do as a family that doesn’t involve two sticks of butter.
This Isn’t Your Last Cookie: Or a piece of cheese. Or a slice of Grandma’s pie. I promise. It’s ok to have just one or turn down the offer. You will have more opportunities to indulge sooner than you realize.
What is YOUR best strategy for maintaining your waistline? Do you have any tips or advice? I’d love to hear all of it!
No forks required.
Disclosure: I am honored to be a Sabra Tastemaker. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Lemon Bowl possible. As always, all thoughts are 100% my own.
Dani Meyer
I love this Liz!! Great ideas! One day we will have to get the boys together….Noah and Asher would have a blast eating tubs of hummus together haha.
Liz DellaCroce
Omg yes!!! Tubs of hummus!!
Taryn
I think the idea of “this is not gonna be your last latte” would relate to me the most. I actually work for Starbucks and we are right in the middle of our holiday promos. Therefore, I am constantly SURROUNDED by Sugar. I am an emotional Eater/drinker as well which makes it extra hard. I am only 22 and am still somewhat slim, but at the rate I’m going I’ll be the “fat lady” in no time. Would you have any further tips or motivational mantras to help me especially when I’m at work?
Liz DellaCroce
Have you ever tried chewing gum or popping a mint? Also, brushing your teeth is a great way to quell a sweet tooth! Good luck!
Kristen
I absolutely love these tips… I am guilty of drinking my calories. I’d rather have a good coffee than a piece of pie! I need to watch that :)
Liz DellaCroce
I would take coffee over pie too!! I have never been a pie fan – is that weird?
Joanne
LOVE LOVE LOVE this!! My maintenance plan involves eating crazy healthy in-between holidays so that on the day of, I don’t have to feel bad about indulging. In the end, one or two days won’t make or break you, but you really do have to keep it to one or two days instead of thinking of the holiday season as a blank check to eat whatever you want!
Liz DellaCroce
Yes I’ve been doing the same. Happy Thanksgiving my sweet friend!
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons
Awwww, poor Aunt Edna and her stretch pants. But yes, we all have relatives like this. I can still remember my Grandpa’s voice, repeatedly asking “did you get enough to eat?” to all 50 relatives, even though we were all STUFFED after every holiday meal! There was no way NOT to get enough to eat!
Such great tips for the holiday season, especially the two-bite rule. So true!
Liz DellaCroce
LOL “Did you get enough to eat?” So true. God bless them. <3
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
I’ll skip the ‘hit the mall’ tip but love the rest! I avoid the mall at all costs this time of year ;)
Liz DellaCroce
hahahah It’s funny – if my MacBook didn’t keep crashing I would never hit the mall but I’ve had to kill a few hours there lately and I can’t believe how many steps i get in. But I’m with you. ;)
Gaby
These are great tips Liz, and you look GREAT!!!
Sadye
I *love* packing my own meals for traveling, at least one way for long trips. Saves money and empty calories! And I too am often “that person” who brings the healthy(ish) food to potlucks :D
Liz DellaCroce
You’re so right!!!! I’m that person too. ;)
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm
OMGeeeee I looooove this idea for a post! I feel ya, the holidays are rough!! I haave gained 4 pounds over the month of December and that is when I was on WW. These are some awesome tips!
I also celebrate a week of cookie abstainance! LOL! It is usually the week before Christmas and it is soooo hard, but totally worth it!
Liz DellaCroce
The week of cookie abstinence!!! I LOVE that!! Good for you!!
Susan
Great tips! I’m glad that I’ve gotten rid of a lot of bad habits over the years, and have never gotten hooked on lattes or anything like that. The way I generally manage holidays is to try to stay within the guidelines of the eating plan we are on. We can eat anything we choose, but I know what works well for me (protein) and what doesn’t (fast carbs), and choose accordingly, without depriving myself. Generally, I find that desserts aren’t worth the calories. This year, what will help me is that I’ve been working on digestive issues, and my stomach is not happy if I eat too much, so that is good motivation for restraint and wise choices. (It’s taken me many years to get to where I am content with less food; there has always been an emotional component to my eating, that used to result in binges, but now I am not happy when my stomach feels even half as full as I used to like it. I have discovered that when I’m able to digest my food properly, I really don’t want as much.) I guess I’d remind people that what we eat is always a choice, and if we are around food pushers we have no reason to feel guilty for not succumbing to their pressures.
Liz DellaCroce
Love your thoughts Susan. I completely agree with you on desserts rarely being worth the calories!
Bette
Years ago, when my husband and I were completely broke, we’d go out for sushi once every month as a special treat — but we’d stop at our local taco stand for a burrito first! For a dollar, we could eat something filling that would allow us to order and enjoy a little less of the expensive sushi. Similarly, when you know you’re going to face a delicious holiday buffet, have a healthy snack (maybe not a burrito, LOL) before you go!
Liz DellaCroce
That’s such a great strategy!! Now I’m craving burritos!
Charlotte Moore
Very good tips!! I did not know drinking your calories was different than eating them. I drink a protein shake lots of times. Hmmmm!!!!
Liz DellaCroce
Well protein shakes are not the worst but I still think you’re better off eating protein in whole form. :)
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life
Liz these are all great ideas! My favourite way to maintain my waistline is to pick a race in January or February (the last two years it has been a half marathon but this year it is a 10k) so that I have to get my exercise in every week. With that bigger goal in mind, and some extra time in the gym, I can indulge in Christmas treats without feeling guilty or having to buy bigger pants!
My family also makes sure there are plenty of fruit and veggie or nut platters at our gatherings so there are some healthy choices too :)
Liz DellaCroce
That is such a great idea to pick a race in the beginning of the year!!
Mary
These are all excellent tips, Liz and I need more hummus in my life asap! I swear I should totally write “this is not your last meal” across my fridge this time of year.
Liz DellaCroce
haha it’s so true though isn’t it??? We are wired to think we need to hoard for the winter. ;-)
Christina
Tip: eat a healthy salad (tons of veg, light on the dressing) an hour before you go to a party/dinner/gathering. This way, you’ll have filled up on veggies, and anything you eat after that will be more conscious of a decision, rather than walking in starving and loading up on two plates of fatty, carb-loaded food.
Liz DellaCroce
That is SUCH a great tip!!!! And so true. I should do the same before I go to the grocery store too. ;)
Amanda
Great ways to help keep everything in balance! I will be putting this list to good use, thank you!!!
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Only 10 lbs left?! Wow! You’re amazing!! Love these tips :) Thank you so much for sharing!
Liz DellaCroce
Aww thank you so much!! Slowly but surely!
fabiola@notjustbaked
The food pushers!!!!!! lol. I love this, Liz. Thank you for motivating us, and inspiring us to do better for ourselves. It is a nice push and reminder to keep things in check.
Liz DellaCroce
You’re so sweet – thank you so much for reading!!
Ali | Gimme Some Oven
“This isn’t your last cookie” — GOOD TO REMEMBER. Actually I love every single one of these. Sharing right now!! :)
Liz DellaCroce
That is seriously my favorite one… I have to remind myself of it often. ;-) Thanks for sharing friend.
Kelly Petersen
Thanks for the suggestions Liz! It’s always nice to have reminders that although some people may try to push some not-so-healthy food on us, it doesn’t mean we have to give in, no matter how genuine their intentions are. :) Oh and if I could add another suggestion, if you’ll be indulging in some alcoholic libations make sure to stick to something heart healthy like wine and be sure to drink lots of water!
Liz DellaCroce
Great tip!!! Pass the vino!! Thanks Kelly.
Chelsey
These are absolutely FANTASTIC tips, Liz! I particularly LOVE the non-food traditions one….when I one day have a family of my own this is definitely going to be a priority! Thanks for sharing!!!
Liz DellaCroce
Yes it’s so true and really, it’s so easy if you just take a little time to create them. Thanks for reading!
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog
Liz! I love these tips! Ever since seeing your tweet this morning I’ve been dying to check out these tips, and as always, you do not disappoint! These are fantastic!! Definitely love the one about creating non-food traditions, what a great idea! Ok, who am I kidding? I LOVE all your tips and ideas! You’re such an inspiration, and you got this with the last 10 lbs! Go Girl!
Liz DellaCroce
Aww thank you for reading friend!! I’m so glad you found this helpful!! Thank you for your endless support!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles
A fabulous list of reminders. Now for the will power to stick with me! Congrats on whittling away those baby pounds!
Liz DellaCroce
Aww thank you friend!! Slowly but surely right? :) xo
Melissa @ Bless this Mess
This was great! Non food traditions are great, I had forgotten about that one. We always go ice skating with the kids and they really look forward to it. Good list girl! And I have to remember to not BE the food pusher. LOL, it’s my love language!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I love that you go ice skating as a family!!!!!
Jennifer Farley
Inspiring as always :)
Liz DellaCroce
Aww thank you for reading, friend.
Kathy
I’ve realized I am never hungry when it’s time to sit down to eat the holiday meal. Everyone brings too many filling appetizers and I indulge every time. My goal, starting with Thanksgiving, is to sit down at the table hungry. What a concept, lol. I am bringing an appetizer and it will be something on the lighter side. I am thinking something simple like sweet and spicy mixed nuts.
Liz DellaCroce
Yes that really is such a smart strategy Kathy!!! You can do it – keep me posted. :)
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
oh this is the perfect reminder. “It’s not your last slice of” is perfection. I try to workout the day of an event and have protein before I arrive if I know we aren’t eating first. I’ve found that helping in the kitchen or with setting up the table keeps me out of the party mix and cheese tray pretty well. Thanks for sharing!
Liz DellaCroce
YES!!! I love that reminder and use it often myself! Love your tip about working out the day of an event – such a good strategy.
Maryea {happy healthy mama}
These are great tips. I love online shopping because I hate the holiday crowds, but I hadn’t thought of heading to the mall as a way to get extra fitness in. Good point! Also, food pushers! Drive. me. crazy. Great post!
Liz DellaCroce
I know I actually never noticed how many steps I get from the mall until I bought a fitbit!! I couldn’t believe it!