Thanksgiving week 8 challenges

Thanksgiving Week 8:  11/20/2011

This week the goal is to stick to your exercise routine and eat small portions--  see the notes below for some helpful tips to get through this week!  

• 1 Reduce or avoid alcohol. This can save you a lot of calories
• 2 Eat before going to a holiday party. You'll be less likely to fill up on sweets and high-calorie appetizers.
• 3 Keep up your exercise challenges. It will help you maintain your weight, give you more energy and allow you to deal better with holiday stress.
• 4 Bring fat-free or low-fat dishes to potlucks.  Encourage others to do the same.
• 5 Arrive at mealtime for a dinner party and avoid before-dinner drinks and appetizers.
• 6  Replace sweets with healthy holiday snacks such as fruit baskets and nuts in shells. They look just as festive and are healthier.
• 7 Attend only the parties you really want to go to. You'll save a lot of calories - and time.
• 8  Simplify the meal if you are cooking. Serve raw vegetables with a dip for an appetizer, a low-fat main course with one or two vegetables, and a fruit and low-fat cheese platter for dessert.
• 9 Set realistic goals. At a holiday dinner or party, indulge in some goodies, but eat smaller portions. Have only one glass of wine or Champagne. Take half a slice of pie.
• 10 Avoid skipping meals before a big holiday meal. You don't want to arrive starving and then gorge yourself on sweets and other unhealthy fare.
• 11 Use moderation and relax. If you break down and eat a high-fat dessert, just go easy on what you have the rest of the day or cut back a few calories tomorrow.
• 12 Drink lots of water