Christmas Discipline

It’s that special time of the year when thoughts are filled with the jolly fat man in his red suit, reindeers and all the fruit cake you can eat.

So what if you feel that this time of the year is stressful and costly in more ways than one. Dollars quickly leave the wallet and kilos are quickly found as we watch our belts get tighter and tighter with over indulging on Christmas treats.

If you have successfully lost weight over 2012, the last thing you will want to do is blow it all in December. With holidays on the horizon and food available that we don’t have very often, making the right choices can be a challenge even to the most disciplined of slimmers. I find the best way to tackle this time of year is to plan ahead.

Here are some tips:

Increase your exercise times or level to help compensate for over eating.
Try and have more good days than bad and if you do have a few functions that will tempt you then either take some food with you or eat before you go. You can still enjoy what is being offered but if you go on an empty stomach your resistance will be weaker and temptation may win.
Reduce or avoid partaking in having too much alcohol. Alcohol is wasted calories and also can be the cause of an undisciplined attitude which may cause you to make the wrong choices when it comes to food.
Take your good intentions with you and remember that little pickers wear big knickers.
Write a food diary leading up to Christmas. This way you can see how much you are eating on the days when you have outings and can reduce over the days to follow. This is how I manage and it works really well.
If you don’t watch what you are doing you may find that when January hits you’re not only a few kilos heavier but your commitment to eating healthy could be out the window.
Christmas doesn’t mean weight gain. I know of many people who with discipline and focus not only had a great time but also breezed through the mayhem of scorched almonds, mince pies and pork crackling. Decide ahead of time what you will eat and how much you will have and work it into your program.

Remember nothing worthwhile comes easy but the rewards are many. Do the right thing and your health will be the winner.

82 Comments

- - june11 said
  - 14 Feb 2016
    9:32 pm
I’m afraid when there is cheesecake around (but not chocolate or coffee flavoured) or Pavlova around I lack willpower. I never have them apart from at a very occasional party so I really enjoy them. The shell/case of Homemade Pavlova actually contains more eggs than sugar. I have watched it being made because I thought I was being lied to. Apart from fruit I am not really a sweet- tooth. I do have one teaspoon of sugar in a big mug of tea but I can go a week or more and not have tea at all. I very rarely make it just for myself.

- - mom81879 said
  - 13 Nov 2015
    3:07 pm
By eating healthy for 360 days of the year allows me a couple of spoil me days. Christmas is one of those days and I will be enjoying all those foods I don’t normally eat

- - mom81879 said
  - 29 Sep 2015
    2:10 pm
Christmas Day is just like every other day of the year here. Might splash out with a BBQ and a pav

- - Kell said
  - 21 Jun 2015
    11:08 am
Great ideas for the whole year thanks

- - mom92217 said
  - 23 Nov 2014
    2:46 pm
First time this year i Will be Disciplined

- - rachaelchara said
  - 06 Oct 2014
    10:40 pm
OMG little pickers wear big knickers…I love it.
- mom93821 replied
  
  27 Jan 2015 , 6:03 am
  Oh my! I have not heard this saying since childhood! 😉
- - eestigirl said
  - 28 Jun 2014
    8:03 pm
We sure do have to be mindful of what we are eating on special occasions when people are so hospitable!

- - twinmum2 said
  - 31 May 2014
    6:49 pm
I’m printing this out and laminating it in preparation for next Christmas. I will not make the same mistakes AGAIN!!!!

- - christial said
  - 31 May 2014
    4:22 pm
I think I’m alright with food intake during holidays but I just lack activity because I have a very active job that I’m on holidays from!

- - catgrrl3 said
  - 22 May 2014
    6:58 pm
its never an easy time of year to stay on track with so many temptations

- - mom57522 said
  - 14 May 2014
    11:11 pm
This coming Christmas I’m going to try the food diary tip.

- - Happymum said
  - 08 May 2014
    3:23 pm
I enjoyed reading this and it gave me something to think about

- - scottie said
  - 05 May 2014
    9:52 pm
your website is fantastic Annette – you are a true inspiration 🙂

- - shazzbot said
  - 30 Apr 2014
    6:07 pm
Some very helpful tips here, thanks for sharing them.

- - yyon4699 said
  - 27 Mar 2014
    9:02 pm
Great tip! Had a good read and thanks for sharing

- - jenny9761 said
  - 19 Mar 2014
    2:54 pm
These are some helpful tips

- - hexrex said
  - 07 Mar 2014
    6:17 pm
I enjoyed reading this, thankyou for sharing

- - ljsalomon said
  - 23 Jan 2014
    8:36 pm
Interesting read -thanks for sharing

- - bubble6369 said
  - 13 Jan 2014
    1:11 am
agree its only once a year just have a little self control

- - ilees68 said
  - 02 Jan 2014
    8:29 pm
Its only once a year. I say enjoy yourself.