Have you been invited out to a holiday dinner party tonight?
Here are a few DO’s and DONT’s that will help you get through the evening without sabotaging all your hard earned efforts to stay healthy and fit.
Remember it is possible to stay on track during the holidays despite intense social pressure not too!
You DON’T have to totally deprive yourself during the holidays but you DO have to have some willpower to say no! I know, I know what you’re thinking….here comes Aunt Betty with her famous Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake. Even if you’re not tempted by the dessert, how do you say no to someone who simply won’t take no for an answer? Get in the habit of saying “No thanks, I don’t eat dessert”– without feeling the need to explain yourself. Or personally I say this all the time with a very big, confident smile “Wow, that looks delicious, I’ll have some later!” At first you will be met with some resistance, but eventually people will get the point and stop asking you.
DON’T try to convince yourself that you’re going to eat less after the holiday event therefore it’s okay to eat what you want during the event. You will not have as much motivation to diet once the event has passed.
DO arrive later. With so many holiday invitations coming your way, it is hard to avoid the social pressure of having to attend every dinner party, or having to sit there and watch everyone else stuff their faces while you’re focused to listen to them criticize you for not joining them. Make the decision to arrive later, maybe after the meal. Without lying or making up excuses, simply tell the host that you won’t be able to make it for dinner, but you’d love to come and visit with everyone afterward.
DON’T skip meals in anticipation of a party or holiday meal. You will only set yourself up for becoming overly-hungry which inevitably leads to overeating and paying little attention to portion control.
DO dress sexy. Wear something tight, get your hair done, put on your highest heels etc. This way you will feel less likely to indulge in a huge dinner.
DON’T drink wine or beer. Go for hard alcohol if you must have something. Why? Because you can nurse a hard drink all night, but with wine and beer there’s a higher chance you will want another.
DO position yourself as far away from the appetizer table as possible.
DO bring your own ‘Coach Courtney Approved’ dish to the occasion. Nobody has to know that it’s healthy or ‘diet food’ but at least you’ll have something to eat that supports your Love Yourself Lean lifestyle.
DO send people home with food if you are hosting a party.
DO sit at the table as far from the unhealthy food options as possible. If you have to keep standing up, putting your drink down and reaching across Aunt Margaret to grab a piece of bread you’re not going to have as many pieces as if it was right in front of you.
Stick to these guidelines and I promise you will keep the weight off while everyone around you gains another 7-16 pounds over the holidays!