6 Holiday Survival Tips
By Christine Miller
eDiets Diabetes Expert

Holiday traditions nearly always include a central feature –food. For people living with diabetes, those needing to manage their weight, or both, gatherings, parties, and festivities are often met with a mix of anticipation and apprehension over how to manage when faced with so many tempting choices.

With Thanksgiving symbolizing the beginning of the season, now is the time to think about a new possibility — how living a healthy lifestyle and enjoying
the holidays can be synonymous with one another. We’ve put together 6 tips to help you do just that.

#1: Ask the magic question

That question is “what do you really want?” What are your goals for this holiday season with regards to your diabetes, exercise, and/or weight? The more specific and clearer you are on your goals, the greater the likelihood you will achieve them. Whatever your goal is, write it down and be sure to specify what specific steps you will take to achieve your planned goal.

Perhaps one of your goals may include keeping your glucose level in range at least 80% of the time throughout the holiday season. Some action steps to support this goal may include keeping a daily food journal, increasing your blood glucose checks to two or more times a day, and counting your carbohydrates.

#2: Eat every 3-4 hours

Nothing can undo weight loss efforts and the delicate balance of blood glucose quicker than a binge. During the holidays you may be even more susceptible to episodes of excessive hunger and/or overeating in response to stress, delayed meals, or missing out on nutritious, between-meal snacks.

Eating frequently is essential to maintaining your energy level and your focus. Eating frequently is especially critical if you take certain diabetes medications or insulin which can unexpectedly drop glucose levels too low. Keep quick, nourishing snacks such as measured portions of nuts or seeds, protein bars, and durable fruits such as apples, plums, or bananas handy and with you at the office, in your purse, or in your car. Finally, be sure to eat your snacks before you become ravenous.

** Even if you are NOT diabetic, this will help shed pounds.  How?  You’re eating healthier choices more often, so when lunch or dinner come around you’ve not starved yourself and you will not over eat!

#3: Be selective

Being selective is essential because trimming calories, fat and carbohydrate begins very simply with not eating too much. If you keep your choices to a small amount of those items you truly enjoy, rather than a large amount of everything, you will likely be more satisfied. If you find yourself eating food just because it is in front of you or because others are eating it, you may be missing out on better things to come. Fit in your favorites and forget the rest.

If your Thanksgiving offerings include a huge number of carbohydrate-rich items, such as rolls, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, egg nog, and pumpkin pie, plan on selecting two of your favorites and filling the rest of your plate with skinless turkey breast, salad, and non-starchy vegetables such as steamed green beans and broccoli. To help avoid feelings of deprivation, save other carbohydrates for upcoming snacks. This will help you avoid consuming too much at one time, a factor which can drive up your glucose levels and lead to post-meal fatigue.

#4: Plan ahead

The busier we get, the less we may be thinking forward and planning our meals and snacks. Planning ahead is always a key to successful diabetes and weight management. It is especially important during the holidays. If time is of the essence and you still need figure out a way to eat healthfully on the run, consider using a chef-prepared, fresh home meal delivery service, such as eDiets DeliciouslyYours.

#5: Move

When does exercise tend to get sent to the back-burner? During the hectic holiday season for sure. Decide now how often and how much time you will dedicate to exercise . Put these dedicated exercise appointments in your schedule at least one week in advance. Exercise will provide an added bonus of much needed stress relief and an energy boost too.

#6: Accept Feedback

Tools which provide feedback such as scales, blood glucose meters, food journals, and measuring devices are invaluable during the holidays. Using a food journal has been clinically proven to help dedicated journalists reach or maintain weight goals. Human nature also leads to an uncanny habit of underestimating what we really eat. Use measuring cups, spoons, and food scales to keep yourself fully aware.

Weighing yourself at least once a week will help you see if your weight is unexpectedly moving in the wrong direction. Finally, regularly checking your blood glucose will give you immediate feedback on how your diabetes management plan is working.

With a few focused strategies you can delight in the holiday season and stay healthy too!

Source: http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?code=24712&cmi=2430388

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