Avoiding the Festive Bulge

Today, a somewhat sensitive (and dreaded) but timely topic - what with all the parties and work shouts and fabulous treats floating around at this time of year it can be pretty hard to avoid piling on the kilos. I am terrible at this and usually start eating non-stop around the beginning of December and don't stop until every last morsel of festive food is consumed.

The last couple of years I've realised that this is what I do - somehow I overlooked this behaviour for a long time (funny how we can blind ourselves to these things!) - and while I certainly don't believe in avoiding the good stuff altogether, I now try to find a balance between enjoying the treats I want to and still being able to squeeze into my suit when I get back to work after the break.  ;-)

I wrote a bit about this stuff back in May but when you're being sociable and relaxing, thinking about moderation is the last thing on your mind, so I thought it might be a good time to dredge up some ideas on keeping things in balance.

So herein lie a few of my tricks - and please realise that the only reason I have 'tricks' is that really I'm lousy at eating healthily if I leave it to chance, so it's definitely not with judgement I offer these ideas to you. ;-) And I'd love to hear your ways of dealing with festive goodies too!

Sharing - it is the festive season, after all! If you get a box of choccies share them around - you might feel a bit begrudging at the time but you know when you scoff them yourself it's the first couple you enjoy the most anyway - so share the love. I am terrible at this, I will freely admit, but I am learning, and the gratitude from others when you offer them a piece of cake or a truffle is almost as good as eating it yourself. ;-)

A common ploy in my book is making deals with myself - for example, if I know that I've got a big three-course meal the next day I go really light on dinner and maybe forego dessert (dessert is pretty much essential for me, so that's not a sacrifice I take lightly!). Or maybe I can have dessert, but only if I work out for longer than usual or something. Trade the calories. Just thinking about this kind of stuff in advance helps me, too - makes it harder for me to pretend that six trips to the buffet really isn't all that harmful. ;-)

Though Christmas parties galore can make it hard to keep up your normal habits, don't skimp on exercise - the weather is glorious, the days are longer, and you're undoubtedly full of energy from all those candy canes so get out there. Or, if you're a gym rat like me, hide away in the dark corners of the cardio room where no-one can see you sweating off the Christmas pudding. ;-) 

Rationing treats is nigh on impossible for me - if I'm given a box of chocolates I just want to rip it open and shove as many in my mouth as I can - delightful, huh? But I try (and often fail - but you know the adage "do as I say, not as I do," right?) to eke them out for as long as I can - then you can enjoy them a little every day for much longer.

Of course, the best way of all is not to eat too much to begin with, but I think that's a pretty tall order and I like my way better. ;-) Having my cake and eating it too?

So how do you deal with the holidays? Do you embrace the gluttony and pay for it later or are you disciplined like I wish I was and just don't overdo it to begin with?