wHETHER IT IS A PARTY FOR: NEW YEAR'S, SUPERBOWL, EASTER, MEMORIAL, 4TH OF JULY, LABOR DAY, HALLOWEEN, THANKSGIVING, OR CHRISTMAS; THESE TIPS CAN HELP!
1. Don’t go hungry – It’s very important to focus on quality nutrition leading up to the party. Fuel yourself with the 2 P’s (protein and produce) to balance hunger, energy and cravings all day long. That means DO NOT starve yourself leading up to the party, studies show that skipping meals actually leads to more unhealthy eating and overindulging later on. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you’ll “cancel out” your party eating by eating less earlier in the day. Instead, minimize the fat storing damage by doing the opposite…Start with an egg and veggie omelette for breakfast, a salad with chicken breast on top for lunch, and plenty of grab & go veggie options throughout your day. On the day of the party, it’s more important than ever to continue eating healthy, balanced meals all day long.
2. Exercise before you go - Start off the morning with a good workout. Whether it’s a Beachbody workout (Find the workouts here) or a quick 10 minute sprint session, exercise before you indulge in your party snacks. Exercising prior to a higher calorie, higher sugar meal is always a good idea as some of the calories can go to building muscle rather than simply just storing fat.
3. Keep insulin low - Insulin is a storage hormone, so when you’re eating more than normal, if insulin is high and excess calories are present, they’re more likely to be stored as fat rather than to be burned and used as energy. The major trigger for insulin release is starchy foods and sugar like bread, pasta, potatoes, cookies, crackers, etc. These foods are not bad in and of themselves, but when it comes to your party, by limiting the amount of starch/sugar you consume, you will be able to keep insulin levels balanced. This not only helps stay away from fat storage, but also ensures you’re avoiding drops in blood sugar that can cause cravings and cause you to eat more at the party.
4. Fight cravings first - Before you even get the party, you need a game plan for how you’ll fight cravings. What’s your “weakness?” Is it the chips? The dessert table? Fight cravings before they even hit. I have a major sweet tooth, so when a craving hits, I mix 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder with hot water and drink it like hot chocolate (sweeten with stevia if desired). Not only has cocoa been shown to improve cardiovascular health and lower blood pressure, but it’s full of antioxidants and kills hunger! Cocoa is also a rich source of many nutritive minerals, most importantly magnesium. Magnesium, along with zinc and vitamin B6, is the number one depleted micronutrient when under stress. Cravings tell your body what it needs, so fight cravings first by listening to your body and fueling it with the vitamins and minerals it’s asking for.
5. Plan ahead - If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. If you want to stay on track, you need to come up with a plan on how you’ll handle the party. Decide beforehand what you’ll eat and how much you’ll drink, then tell yourself that you WILL stick to your plan. Fill your plate with the 2 P’s (protein + produce) FIRST and starch, dessert, or alcohol second.
If your Party nutrition doesn’t go as planned…
Don’t beat yourself up! Too many women throw in the towel after a splurge. They fall off the wagon and then hit themselves over the head until they get back on. You may feel defeated and think, “Oh well, I blew it! It’s too late now. I’ll just eat junk the rest of the week and start again on Monday.” That is NOT the right attitude to have. Give yourself some grace. Allow yourself to mess up. And then remember…
This is a lifestyle. After a splurge, it’s important to think of your eating habits over the course of a few days. What have you been telling your body over the course of this week? How about this month? How about this YEAR? Do you really think that ONE overindulgence can mess up a months worth of good fat loss nutrition? This is a lifestyle, and that means looking at the big picture, not a single days events.
EVERY meal you eat is a chance to – via hormones – tell your body to either BURN or STORE fat.
The goal is to make good choices and not feel deprived on all the fun. Have fun and continue to #FightForIt
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