{"id":3104,"date":"2011-12-15T09:18:10","date_gmt":"2011-12-15T14:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/ourladyofweightloss\/?p=3104"},"modified":"2011-12-15T09:18:10","modified_gmt":"2011-12-15T14:18:10","slug":"21-tips-how-tomake-it-a-happy-holiday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/ourladyofweightloss\/2011\/12\/21-tips-how-tomake-it-a-happy-holiday.html","title":{"rendered":"21 Tips: How to Make It a Happy Holiday"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I understand that we think \u2019tis the season to over-indulge, stuff ourselves silly and stress ourselves out,’ but it really doesn\u2019t have to be.<\/p>\n

Our Lady of Weight Loss to the Rescue! <\/strong>
\n21 Tips: Make It a Happy Holiday<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tip #1. Cook \u2018em Up Righteous.<\/strong> Do you really have to go out of your way to make each and every dish as fattening as possible? I promise you that a baked sweet potato is far better than any casserole that has melted marshmallows a top!<\/p>\n

Tip #2. Get Your Impulses In Check.<\/strong> Make a list and check it twice. Take off anything that\u2019s naughty and not nice! And then \u2026 stick to it! The supermarket displays are strategically placed so that you whatever item is on them, all glittery \u2013 calling your name, into your cart on \u2018impulse. (Yes, that\u2019s called impulse shopping.) Don\u2019t do it! You\u2019re stronger than that. Keep on walking.<\/p>\n

Tip #3. Sliders Stick.<\/strong> Don\u2019t be duped into thinking that a slider is so small that it doesn\u2019t count. Most sliders are a minimum of 100 calories per slide. If you slide enough you will have effectively slipped off the wagon with a loud thud!<\/p>\n

Tip #4. Breathe.<\/strong> Before you reach for that deep-fried whatever, take in one deep belly breath. Deep breathing will disconnect you from the impulse to eat and connect you to your body. Then \u2026<\/p>\n

Tip #5. Ask Your Body.<\/strong> Get out of your mind and into your body. Ask your body, \u201cBody, what do you have to say about this?\u201d Chances are your body will be in shock for a few seconds. After all, when\u2019s the last time you considered what your body might be feeling while you were stuffing it?<\/p>\n

Tip #6. Walk It Off.<\/strong> It\u2019s okay for you to leave the party for 5, 10 or 20 minutes (or more!). Not only will you burning off that extra olive in your martini, but walking is a fabulous way to de-stress.<\/p>\n

Tip #7. Never Ever Go to a Party Hungry.<\/strong> People \u2018think\u2019 that they are saving calories by not eating all day. \u201cI\u2019m saving calories for the party,\u201d they tell me. \u201cBologna,\u201d I say! It just doesn\u2019t work, does it? No, it doesn\u2019t. You will more than likely eat at least twice or maybe even three times the amount!<\/p>\n

Tip #8. Money, Money, Money.<\/strong> Don\u2019t get caught up in a buying frenzy or trying to keep up with the Jones! Do the grab bag thing. Make gifts. How many sweaters do we need?<\/p>\n

Tip #9. Sleep Baby Sleep.<\/strong> I\u2019m telling you that sleep deprivation is a game breaker. It will set you off balance in a multitude of ways. Aside from possibly being a grouch (and who wants to deal with a grouch during the holidays), lack of sleep can lead to weight gain because it causes your body to increase its levels of the appetite-stimulating hormone called ghrelin, while it decreases the level of leptin, a hormone that helps to make you feel sated.<\/p>\n

Tip #10. Make Your Home a Safe Haven.<\/strong> If I had a dime for every time I\u2019ve said this, I\u2019d be rich. Listen up, people. If your home does not support your goals; if it is overflowing with your red light foods, you will use up all your energy saying \u2018no, thank you\u2019 at home. You\u2019ll never make it past the buffet.<\/p>\n

Tip #11. Step Away from the Buffet Table.<\/strong> Speaking of the buffet table \u2026 if you\u2019ve parked your tush near the buffet table, I can only ask, \u201cwhat kind of masochist are you?\u201d Move away from the food!<\/p>\n

Tip #12. Plain and Simple.<\/strong> Stay away from any and all holiday-themed foods and drinks. A 20-ounce peppermint mocha with whipped cream weighs in at 480 calories; a mocha spice latte at 450 calories. A glass of eggnog (spiked) is 370 calories.<\/p>\n

Tip #13. Chew Gum.<\/strong> I don\u2019t know about you, but I find it near impossible not to eat while I\u2019m cooking. You could chew sugar-free gum, while cooking, or for a more extreme approach, try electrician\u2019s tape.<\/p>\n

Tip #14. Ban Elastic Waist Pants.<\/strong> You don\u2019t want to leave room for expansion, do you? Wear form fitting pants, so at least you know where you stand!<\/p>\n

Tip #15. Listen to Music.<\/strong> Music activates the same feel good center of your brain that food does. So, tune in and listen up!<\/p>\n

Tip #16. Stand on the Sunny Side of the Street.<\/strong> Get at least 20 minutes of sunlight. Even if you have to sit on the windowsill. It helps your brain to produce serotonin, a mood booster.\u00a0 And, dig this! Apparently serotonin also helps us feel full or sated.<\/p>\n

Tip #17.\u00a0 Keep Knives Out of Sight.<\/strong>\u00a0 Knives are metal objects that have a tendency to destroy harmony, stimulate quarrels, fighting and friction in the household.<\/p>\n

Tip #18. Even Number Dinner Parties.<\/strong> An even number of table settings will help you to feel relaxed, whereas an odd number will heighten anxiety. The more tranquil your eating environment, the easier it will be to stick to your diet.<\/p>\n

Tip #19.\u00a0 The Holiday Script.<\/strong> Remember that no one has read the script that you have written for them, nor have you read the script that they have written for you.<\/p>\n

Tip #20.\u00a0 Learn to Say \u201cNo\u201d in Multiple Languages.<\/strong> There\u2019s no point in saying \u201cyes\u201d when you
\nwant to say \u201cno.\u201d\u00a0 If English isn\u2019t working for you, try saying \u2018no\u2019 in Spanish.<\/p>\n

Tip #21.\u00a0 Have Fun!<\/strong> Let\u2019s not forget, \u2019tis the season to be jolly!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Spread the word \u2026 NOT the icing!
\nJanice<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014
\nFor the best in wellness and weight loss wisdom, visit Janice:
\nOur Lady of Weight Loss<\/a>
\njoin the\u00a0Kick in the Tush Club<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

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I understand that we think \u2019tis the season to over-indulge, stuff ourselves silly and stress ourselves out,’ but it really doesn\u2019t have to be. Our Lady of Weight Loss to the Rescue! 21 Tips: Make It a Happy Holiday Tip #1. Cook \u2018em Up Righteous. Do you really have to go out of your way…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,249,2,70,82,60,2527,1207,1488,1,19,176,349,369],"tags":[2625,2626,609,671,3827,3825,3860,3837,248],"class_list":["post-3104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-diet","category-diet-tips","category-inspiration","category-janice-taylor","category-kick-in-the-tush-club","category-our-lady-of-weight-loss","category-spiritual-living","category-spiritual-weight-loss-2","category-the-holiday-diet","category-weight-loss","category-weight-loss-art","category-weight-loss-coach-2","category-weight-loss-motivation","category-weight-loss-tips-2","tag-21-diet-tips","tag-21-holiday-tips","tag-christmas-diet","tag-how-to-lose-weight","tag-kick-in-the-tush-club","tag-our-lady-of-weight-loss","tag-the-holiday-diet","tag-weight-loss-motivation","tag-weight-loss-tips"],"yoast_head":"\n21 Tips: How to Make It a Happy Holiday - Our Lady of Weight Loss<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/ourladyofweightloss\/2011\/12\/21-tips-how-tomake-it-a-happy-holiday.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"21 Tips: How to Make It a Happy Holiday - Our Lady of Weight Loss\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I understand that we think \u2019tis the season to over-indulge, stuff ourselves silly and stress ourselves out,’ but it really doesn\u2019t have to be. 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