Shedding extra pounds

I wrote the following article after Christmas 2008. Although specifically aimed at Christmas or other holiday dinners, I wonder how many of us face similar situations throughout the year at family dinners, family or class reunions, or when groups of friends and co-workers get together to eat out. Oh, and let's not forget retirees in Florida looking for bargain meals in the hundreds of restaurants or participating in potluck gatherings. Personally, I remember a childhood with years of Wednesday night potluck dinners in the Eustis, Florida United Methodist Church. An eat-all-you-want buffet.

If this were an ideal world, shedding extra holiday pounds wouldn't even be necessary. Everyone would eat small, healthy portions and take long after-dinner walks. This works for some people. Many, however, find holiday eating a struggle.

What to do with all that food...

The best-laid plans for not overeating holiday foods crumble when faced with platters stacked high with turkey and ham. Mashed potatoes laced with melted butter, a traditional green bean casserole and too, too many desserts tempt every eater.

Christmas day is past, the round of parties is over -- at least until New Year's Eve -- and there are all those leftovers to face. Hopefully, most were given away to someone else. Otherwise, when pressured to take food home, look for foods in their purest form, such as white turkey meat, plain baked potatoes, or any vegetable that has not been buttered or fried. At home, immediately pack leftovers in single serving containers and freeze whatever can be frozen.

Walk it off...

Anyone who didn't take a walk immediately following each feast needs to rise up now, bundle up if living in a cold zone and take a long hike. Gather family and friends around. Walks are always more fun and seem to go more quickly when done in a group. Sixty-minute walks every day aren't a requirement. A couple of 15-minute walks daily work just as well.

What you eat...

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away." The old adage is still relevant. What it means is that eating nutritious foods in reasonable amounts every day keeps you feeling healthy and in fit condition. Excess pounds will also melt away.

Stock up on fresh fruits, vegetables and salad greens in addition to everything else. Keep a bowl of apples and oranges on the table at all times. Grab one or the other several times a day, particularly in view of others in the family. Set the example. Serve salads once a day, every day.

Healthy eating tips...

1. Eat all meals and snacks at the kitchen or dining room table. No eating in front of the television or computer. No reading while eating.
2. Put down the fork, spoon or food between bites. Place hands in lap while each bite of food is being chewed and swallowed.
3. Brush teeth immediately after eating or drinking.
4. When the urge to eat more strikes, wait ten minutes. Then ten more...

Work it off...

Workout equipment such as treadmills, stationery bikes or mini-tramps are not an absolutely necessity for a good workout. Television stations feature workout programs. Dozens of workout DVDs are available. Gear any exercise program to age, health and current abilities.

Numerous weight loss centers exist and can be found in every community. Many are also accessible via online memberships. Attending weekly meetings of Weight Watchers, Tops or similar groups offers dieters the companionship of others who are committed to shedding pounds and living a healthy life, not only after the holidays but also every day of the year.

Start shedding holiday pounds now -- immediately after the holidays, while the amount gained is still minimal. Get a plan, get back on track, and optimize your health as you head into a new year.

So, here we are, about to enter March, and the holidays are several months behind us. Unshed holiday pounds act like a magnet, drawing yet more extra pounds. With the pounds comes sluggishness, embarrassment, and a feeling of having bags of 5# and 10# bags of sugar strapped to various parts of our anatomy. I highly recommend the techniques and support system of Weight Watchers. I started before the holiday - mid-October 2008. As of last night, I've gotten rid of an excess of 36.4 pounds. My current goal (my second) is 164. My next goal will be 154. My low-end weight range is 132. Hey, that's what I weighed in my teens and twenties when I looked so thin. Do I want to go there? I don't know. It depends, I guess, on what my body tells me.


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