ANCHORAGE BARIATRICS

FOR A NEW BEGINNING

10 Tips to get through the holiday season

December 21, 2021
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The holidays are in full swing! That in itself is enough to create anxiety and discouragement for anyone on a weight loss journey this time of the year. But, don’t dismay!

We’ve put together some tips to help you survive the holidays and enjoy this special time of year.

  • The Reason for the Season
    • Try to think about the real reasons we are celebrating the season. It is a time for getting together with family, friends, neighbors, or religious reasons. Food is definitely a part of our culture. Try making it a secondary thought and focus more on the real reason for the holidays.
  • Remain Physically Active
    • It is easy to lead a pretty sedentary life during the holidays. Try to stay active. Not only will this help burn calories, but can help relieve some stress as well. Try dancing to some of your favorite holiday music to really lift your spirits and get the family involved.
  • Preplan
    • The holidays can provide extra busy schedules and wreck havoc on our regular routines. Try not to allow long time gaps between meals or snacks. Keep your body on schedule as much as possible during these busy times to help avoid getting off track with your eating habits. Plan ahead on what you can take with you for any event or meal.
  • Watch Portion Sizes
    • It is important to keep your portions reasonably-sized. Looking over all the options first may help you make better decisions about what to put on your plate. You don’t need to deprive yourself, but keep your portions small so you may enjoy those items you really want to try. Be sure to resist the temptation to go back for seconds.
  • Record Daily Intake and Exercise
    • One way to feel more in control of your eating habits and exercise during the holidays is to record them. This will help you see if you are staying on track or falling short of your goals. You can simply write them down or use an app to help track your progress. Also, practice asking yourself: “Am I really hungry?”. Sometimes drinking water is all your body really needs.
  • Out of Sight, Out of Mind
    • One way to not overindulge on holiday goodies is to create an environment that is free of temptations. It can be hard to tell ourselves no. When you remove the temptation, you are completely in control and don’t have to fight that nagging urge to have to resist.
  • Rest/Sleep
    • Be sure to get enough rest during the holidays. It will help you deal with stress and keep you focused on your goals. Some things may not get done on your “to do” list and that is alright! Self-care is especially important during a busy time of the year.
  • Motivation
    • Don’t forget your motivation for wanting to lose weight and keep it off. This is an excellent time to review your motivation. Be sure to focus on the positives and not dwell on the negatives. Also, the holidays are a time to be realistic and strive for weight maintenance instead of weight loss. Keeping this thought in mind will help you stay on track with your weight loss goals.
  • Pamper Yourself
    • During the holidays, do something that will make you feel good! Some examples may include: manicure, pedicure, massage, volunteer, going for a walk, etc. – anything that will take the focus off of food and allow you to feel good about yourself. Remember, you are important too!
  • Goals
    • Where do you want to see yourself January 1st? Imagine how happy you will be if you maintain your weight or even lose weight during the holidays! No worries though if you get off track. Set those goals and know that the new year is an opportunity to start afresh.

“It’s not about perfect. It’s about effort. And when you bring that effort every single day, that’s where transformation happens.”
― Jillian Michaels


Flourless Chickpea Blondies

So delicious, so simple, so healthy.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sun butter
  • 2 tsp coconut sugar (if using sweetened sun butter, no need to add this)
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • 1 15-oz can chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
  • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper.
  3. Add all of the ingredients, except the chocolate chips, to your food processor.
  4. Process until smooth.
  5. Stir in chips.
  6. Pour batter into line pan.
  7. Bake 30-35 mins, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool in pan on rack for a bit, then lift out the parchment and cool the blondies on the parchment on the rack until cool.
  9. Slice and enjoy!

Source: https://kitchenofyouth.com/flourless-chickpea-blondies/ 


Who Says Workouts Can’t Be Fun?!?

Get in the Christmas spirit with these fun workout videos featuring Christmas music. Get the family involved and make some memories while getting the benefit of exercise at the same time! Have some fun!