Happy and Healthy Holidays
A long list of extra things to do can make the holidays a stressful time. Avoid handling your stress by munching on too many sugary sweets, or you’ll find yourself stressed and gaining weight through the holidays.
How can you boost your holiday mood without packing on the pounds?
The best way to keep your mood and your weight stable is to keep an eye on your blood sugar. When your blood sugar is low, you’ll feel crabby and crave sugars. But if your blood sugar spikes too high, you’ll soon experience a “crash.” The goal is to keep your blood sugar at an even level.
Focus on good carbohydrates.
While most diet plans focus on high proteins for weight loss, your body needs carbohydrates to maintain energy and an even blood sugar. Carbohydrates move tryptophan, the amino acid that makes up serotonin, across the brain. Serotonin is key to keeping you in a good mood, and it can help fight weight gain, as it helps tell you when you’re full and works to reduce your appetite.
The key is to focus on carbohydrates that your body absorbs slowly so that you can keep your blood sugar (and weight) on an even keel. Slowly absorbing carbohydrates include those usually found in grains, oatmeal, fruits, whole-wheat bread and bagels, cereals (ones that aren’t loaded with sugar), whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, and sweet potatoes.
In addition to focusing on quality carbohydrates, you can also look for opportunities to combine carbohydrates with protein.
Tips to Boost Your Mood Without Gaining Weight
A healthy diet will help boost your mood and fight holiday weight gain. Learn how to keep from gaining weight during the holiday season while remaining in good spirits.
Always eat breakfast. People who skip breakfast have a harder time maintaining their mood and energy throughout the day than those who eat breakfast. And any time you skip a meal, you’re more likely to overeat the next chance you get.
Drink plenty of water. Fatigue is the first symptom of dehydration. If you find yourself feeling tired during the day, reach for a glass of water before diving into the holiday cookies.
Drink nonfat milk. Nonfat milk contains tryptophan that your brain needs to keep your mood elevated.
Pass on the alcohol. A few alcoholic drinks may make you feel more relaxed initially, but it actually increases depression and anxiety and can interfere with your sleep patterns. Alcohol can also lower your inhibitions and decision-making abilities when it comes to healthy food choices.
Plan for small carbohydrate snacks during the day. Instead of ignoring your carbohydrate cravings, prevent them with quality carbohydrates that are slowly absorbed by your body. It will help keep your mood even and make you less likely to binge on sugary sweets.
Don’t let unwanted stress or weight gain prevent you from enjoying the holidays. Focus on small, frequent meals to give you the energy you need to get through the holidays without giving up on your weight loss goals.