Ohh December

You are the bane of my existance. Ok not really. It's more like a love/hate relationship. Every year at this time, work slooooooows down, the temperature drops and as it gets colder, I start to crave all of those comfort foods and dream of spending my days curled up on the couch in hibernation. This year is no exception. It's really hard for me to get motivated to workout regularly this month, let alone eat super healthy - there's so much temptation all around. The average weight gain over the holidays is 2-3lbs. The average weight gain per year for adults over age 30 is 2lbs. Coincidence? I think not. Most people who put weight on in December do not take it off in the New Year (as they may tell themselves) or at all; instead they carry it over to the next Christmas, then gain more and the cycle repeats itself. Obviously this adds up to significant weight gain as time goes on, and it sneaks up on you when you're "too busy" enjoying life or too distracted with all of the celebration. For this reason alone it is really important to be aware and pro-active in avoiding packing on those extra pounds. If I'm struggling, I can only imagine that all of you are feeling the same. The best battles are fought by those who are prepared. Here are a few of the things I've been doing just to stay on track during the holiday season:

1. Make a big fat pot of chili (or homemade soup) MMmm. Nothing makes me feel more nourished and satisfied than coming in from the cold and eating a nice bowl of piping hot, homemade chili. Extra lean ground beef (skip or add tofu if you're a vegetarian ), kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans (aka chickpeas), TONS of onion and garlic and all the most beautiful, colorful veggies you can find, sauteéd in olive oil. Add a few cans of crushed tomatoes and a bit of tomato paste chock full of vitamins and lycopene (which is a powerful antioxidant found in red and orange veggies when they're cooked) and whatever fresh herbs and spices you can think of. I like parsley, oregano, dried guajillo peppers, chili powder and whatever else I have on hand that looks interesting. Roast a head of garlic smothered in olive oil to use as a spread for toast, sprinkle in parmesan and you have a meal that will warm you from the inside out.

2. Allow yourself a break from your typical routine. Instead of going to the gym, get outside! Walk around to see all the Christmas lights and decorations in your neighbourhood. Have a snowball fight (if you have no snow, as we don't yet in Vancouver, play tag. Be a kid! Playing will keep you young. Who cares what people think). Go sledding or skiing or snowboarding. Try skating or cross country skiing. It's so rejuvinating being outside in the cold, fresh air. Make sure you dress for it though. This is always a challenge for me, which leads me to my next point.

3. Layers! I've always had trouble with the weather in the winter; being of such small stature and low body fat doesn't help - I know, cry me a river right? But this year I've really been dressing for it. Long johns, leggings, (I LOVE LEGWARMERS), 2 or 3 long sweaters or cardigans topped with hoodies and a vest, scarves, a few cute winter hats and a couple pair of gloves /mittens. Investing in cute and cozy winter clothes has made winter a whole lot more tolerable, which allows me to get outside more and actually enjoy it. I remember growing up, leaving for school in the morning wearing my leather or jean jacket unzipped, no hat/mitts/scarf or anything of the sort and having wet hair that would freeze solid as I waited for the bus. All in -20 degrees celcius and below. Man I am so glad I'm not cool anymore.

4. Remember the 80/20 rule. If you're doing great the rest of the year, maybe you deserve to take a bit of slacker time. Eat a few of your favorite Christmas goodies, or have the hot chocolate with extra whip cream. You're going to burn more calories if you're outside anyway. Just be careful not to overdo it. As long as you stay somewhat active, indulging over the holidays will barely make a dent in your physique, provided that you don't let things get too out of hand. Filling up on veggies, drinking water and trying to move at least an hour per day should be staples in your life, and if they are, you've got a solid foundation. With January 1st just around the corner, I'm sure you'll be re-committing to your health after this little break is over, right? This shouldn't give you an excuse to do a lot of damage, oh no, but rather a chance to rejuvinate a little and get mentally prepared and excited about getting back on track, even stronger.

5. Little tricks. There are so many minor things you can do that all add up to major success. They're relatively simple and don't deserve their own paragraphs, but if you can pick a few or do them all, you're well on your way to surviving the holidaze without a 10 lb weight gain:

- Drink water. Hee hee. No really. For every beer/glass of wine/liquor you have, have one glass of water to rehydrate.

- Eat slowly. Put down your fork between bites. Chew thoroughly. Fill up on veggies.

- Eat before parties. Avoid eating while standing up. Avoid mindless grazing at the food table. Bring your own healthy dish or a party plate of veggies for snacks. Carry your own healthy snacks in your purse.

- DO NOT "save up" on calories. If you skip a meal so that you can indulge later, you will gain weight. I know too many people that don't eat all day so they can go out for dinner and eat for 3. Your body thinks you are starving and will store whatever calories you consume as fat. If you're eating late at night, you're probably drinking too and your defenses are down. Try to stay in control. If you overdo it, eat clean the next day and get right back on track. DON'T STARVE YOURSELF. It has the opposite affect.

-If you have to eat on the run, try Subway or Pita Pit (or whatever similar where you are). There are healthy options out there that are satisfying. Avoid the bad ones in the food court when you're shopping...you know, the ones they're always giving out free samples of. Mmmm General Tso's deep fried chicken ears. Tasty going down, but they keep coming back up. Heartburn anyone?

-Dress up. If you wear your nice clothes (that are slim fitting) you will be less likely to overeat than if you lounge around in your pjs. Step away from the fat pants!

-Instead of buying expensive chocolates, gourmet junk food or bottles of wine for your loved ones, try a yoga mat, water bottle, combination lock, Lulu Lemon gift certificate, gym bag, 10 sessions with a Personal Trainer, workout DVDS such as Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, a gym membership or a Wii Fit. Encourage health.

Happy Holidays to you all! Be good and greatful for your blessings. You have SO many.