How to beat those holiday blues!
PIN IT!
Who hasn’t felt like this (picture above) during the midst of the holiday chaos? I know I have! Between present-buying, home-decorating, office-caroling, office-partying and cookie-baking, there leaves almost no time to relax and enjoy the holidays (and few days off work)! The holidays, which are supposed to be a time of love, relaxing and happiness, turn into a great ball of stress, which leave people wishing for the new year and unable to relax enough to celebrate the joy that is the season. So what can you do when you are on your last nerve or your family is driving you up the wall? A solution to such woes in my neck of the woods is drinking, lots and LOTS of vino. Which is not a realistic, or healthy, solve to any of your problems. So instead, try a few simple solutions that will keep you from setting the tree on fire.
Excercise: The number one way to reduce anxiety and get out your stress! According to the Mayo Clinic, excercise increases your endorphins (your brain’s feel good/happy transmitters), improves your mood (you often feel better about yourself and your life once you’ve worked out) and works out your muscles (which tend to tighten up and tense when you’re facing a stressful situation). If you’re not a runner (I have to force myself) try a fun hip/hop dance class, yoga, Pilates, kickboxing or spinning. All of these classes (and variants of each) are featured at most mainstream gyms. If you don’t have a gym (they can be costly!) try fast paced walking around you neighborhood or apartment, or try a workout DVD. Jackie, from Work Out (Bravo) released a new, total ass-kicking DVD that works all your muscle groups. (HINT-PERFECT GIFT FOR HEALTH NUTS!)
If you are an outdoorsy girl and are lucky enough to live where it snows for Christmas, call on your inner child and play out in the snow for a dual workout and stress reliever!
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Sledding/tobogganing/bobsledding: These old-fashioned favorites are not only really fun, but can also burn a whopping 374 calories an hour! (For an average 150lb 65 inch female!)
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Building a snowman: Who doesn’t love Frosty the Snowman? What makes building your own Frosty even better is the fact it can burn up to 285 calories per hour! Now that’s a yard decoration that serves dual purposes! Just make sure to include the top hat 🙂
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Having a snowball fight: As a kid, this was my favorite winter day activity, granted I was usually the one getting creamed by my brothers! Either way, snowball fights are a fun, free way to enjoy the cold weather. (Just make sure you are bundled up properly AND avoid the iceballs!) Snowball fights can also burn up to 319 calories per hour!
Go shopping…FOR YOU! The holidays are all about gift giving and gift receiving! You find yourself in search of the perfect purse for mom, the newest gadget for dad, the best game for brother and the sweetest gift for your honey, which can be exhausting (not to mention difficult on a budget!) I’ve found myself at near-mental-breakdown status many a time at the local shopping mall in search of the perfect gifts for my loved ones. So what do I do when I’m feeling more like Scrooge than santa? Shop, but of course! but this time, for myself!
I know I know, shopping for oneself during the holiday seems a bit selfish, but who said you can’t give a gift to yourself? We all work hard all year, and we sure work our butts of during the holiday seasons, so why not splurge on that purse you’ve been eyeing or that sassy pair of shoes? If you feel your mental and physical self falling through the cracks, do something to make yourself feel good, beautiful, happy, sexy, relaxed, etc (Which a beautiful new pair of heels or a gorgeous New Years dress most definitely will!) Chances are, if you buy yourself something, you’ll feel better about yourself and more excited to shop for others. Below are a link to my favorite “splurge on me” stores. Shop guilt free!
Go out with your girlfriends. Nothing beats the holiday blues like a nice bitch fest with your favorite gal pals. (Bitch fests help me through any blues, holiday or not!) So when you’re feeling a little bitchy, pissed, stressed, overwhelmed, sad, depressed, angry, i’m-going-to-eat-a-whole-pint-of-icecream (it’s a real feeling, trust me), call your best friends and suggest a meeting to vent. If they are truly your best friends, they’ll drop what they are doing and meet you. Grab lunch at a nice, quiet deli or go window shopping at your favorite outdoor mall (if you’re in DC, I suggest Tyson’s Galleria http://www.tysonsgalleria.com/ or Bethesda Row http://bethesdarow.com/). My favorite thing to do is meet up for cocktails. I’ve had some of the best laughing/bitch sessions of my life over a few martinis. (Just don’t get sloppy, no one likes a drooling-stumbling-overherself-bitching friend).
Because it’s the holiday season, and we’d all rather be caroling, laughing and enjoying every minute than stressing and freaking out! (That’s what January 1st is for and the day your holiday credit card bill arrives!) Spend your days relaxed, happy and care-free by following those simple steps! HAPPY RELAXING!
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Be thankful, not regretful, this Thanksgiving
I’ve had a busy past week, and don’t see myself getting any less busy until after the new year. Yikes! I just got back from a 4 day excursion in Denver, Co (GORGEOUS) and am prepping myself for a weekend with the in-laws in Charleston (also, gorgeous!) I’m still in absolute awe that’s it’s already Thanksgiving. Although I love this holiday, inspired by gluttony, and a bit of history and thanks thrown in, I’m also completely terrified of what a FULL day of eating and drinking will do to my waistline. But I’ll try my best to put those worries aside and keep my type A personality in check. (Operative word is try, that doesn’t mean I won’t take a jog in their neighborhood or keep a notebook of my calorie counts in my back pocket).
Now, as the title of this blog clearly states, Thanksgiving is all about thanks. Giving thanks, receiving thanks and spreading “thanks” all around. However, since the day has turned into a day of feasting and bingeing, most people are left feeling more regret than thanks on that decadent Thursday. (I’ve been there, I still have trouble kicking myself when I reach for another scoop of mashed potatoes). I’ve spent Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving bloated and regretful for all that I indulged, which left very little time for thanks. (Self loathing can suck up 3 hours fast!) So this year, I’m going to focus more the thanks and the giving portion of the holiday. Because really, that’s what the holiday is for!
So here are the things I am utterly thankful this year and when my mind starts to wonder to calorie counting, self-hatred and the utter fear of an expanding waistline, I’m going to recite this list to myself and to others. Nothing kicks negative energy better than a dose of positive!
1. My friends & my family. Even if I say thanks every second of every minute until the day I die, that will still not amount to how truly thankful I am for such an amazing family and group of friends. No matter what debacle I find myself in (trust me, there have been MANY) they all stand by side and support me in all that i do. I would not be who I am and who I hope to be without them.
2. My boyfriend, my doggy and having a wonderful place to call home. I’m so lucky, and I know it, to have the love of a wonderful man. I’ve had my ups and downs in relationships and I’ve had my heart-broken more times than I can count, so when Elliot came along, I was scared, hesitant and a little broken. Not only is he a wonderful man, he is easy to love, and I’m so happy when I’m with him. And my doggy! (a gift from said wonderful boyfriend). Puts a smile on my face every time I see him. No matter how bitchy, pmsy, tired or wrong I am, he still loves me. and wags his fluffy little tail when I walk in the door. I’m also so thankful for our home. Although it’s just a little one bedroom place, it’s ours and we’ve decorated and made it feel like home.
3. Having great health. I give thanks for this every single day. Health is something so many people take for granted and it’s something I never will. There are so many diseases killing millions of people a day and I’m able to work, run, eat and live normally, which allows me the ability to help these people and help find cures to all of those not as lucky as I am. For all the others out there who are also blessed with great health, use your luck to help others who are not as fortunate.
4. A great job, with fantastic coworkers, in a beautiful city. Everyday, I’m told how lucky I am to have gotten such a great job in such a great city right out of school. And I mean right. I walked off the graduation stage into my Washington DC office. I’ve heard horror stories of recent grads not getting a job until a year after graduation or having to take a crappy job in a rural countryside in order to survive. I’m so thankful to have gotten such an amazing opportunity at a firm where there is endless possibilities for promotion and learning. And not to mention, I have some pretty amazing coworkers.
5. Life!! I know, life seems a bit broad. But I’m so thankful for it! I’ve been blessed in my life and have had so many amazing experiences and opportunities that not many people get. I’m so thankful for everyone in my life, the direction my life is taking, and all of the amazing things I know “life” has in store for me.
So in the spirit of the season, share what you are thankful for with your loved ones, and have them share theirs. It’s called THANKSgiving for a reason 🙂 HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Holiday eating part 2: Standing up to the buffet table
Cocktail parties, Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas eve soirees are undoubtedly my favorite part of the holiday season. You get to dress in festive gowns, don your neck and wrists with sparkly jewelry and get to spend time with the people you love the most. NOt to mention, the buffet table is decorated with plump yams, giant hams and delicious, creamy side dishes that could feed a small army. what’s not to love? Well if you are a health-nut, obsessive weight watching maniac like myself, the buffet table becomes my greatest nemesis. I always correlate the buffet table with that evil furnace in the basement of Kevin’s house on Home Alone. Seemingly just a harmless party necessity can turn out to be a soul eating monster if you aren’t careful.
Terrifying for children and adults alike!
If you’d like to make it out of your holiday party alive, and still comfortably fitted into your gown, you need to prepare to face-off and defeat the treats that reside on that buffet table. Although it may seem like a gory, endless battle, you can walk out a champion (and still worthy of that “wow, you must have lost weight, you look great!” comment) if you follow some easy steps.
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Eat before you go!! I can’t stress this enough. for some tips on what to eat and how much, see my post Holiday Eating part 1: How to avoid the party binge
- Bring a healthy dish to ensure you have one good-for-you option. In this day in age, you can transform any dish to become more diet friendly. I know most of you are thinking “but they don’t taste as good as the full fat versions!” Which could not be farther from the truth. Many people have such a misconception about healthy food and how it tastes like cardboard, has no flavor, doesn’t look appealing, etc, etc, when most of the time, these dishes taste the same, if not better, than their heavier counterparts. Here are a few holiday staples with a lighter twist that taste just as delicious, trust me, i’ve made them!
Green bean casserole: (You save over 100 calories and 5 grams of fat by switching to fat-free cream of mushroom!)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion (1 medium)
- 2 tablespoons margarine
- 1/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
- 1 10-3/4-ounce can reduced-fat and reduced-sodium cream of mushroom soup
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds (or pecons, that add an extra sweetness)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 cans of French-cut green beans, drained
- Directions: In small saucepan, cook onion in margarine till tender. Remove from heat. Stir in bread crumbs. Toss to coat. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine soup, almonds, salt and black pepper. Stir in green beans. Transfer to a casserole dish. Sprinkle with onion-crumb mixture. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or untill heated through.
Healthy cookies—Healthy and cookies don’t usually run hand in hand, however, there are ways to make your favorite dessert a little lighter.
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1) Replace butter with oil or fruit. By switching to oil, you can eliminate up to 5 grams of saturated fat. Butter does work to moisten the cookies so to prevent drying out your treats, keep them in an airtight container. Another great substitute for butter (and doesn’t dry cookies out like oil) is add apples or sauce purees (such as apple sauce, cranberry sauce, cherry pie filling, etc). I love to use cranberry sauce in my fruity cookies because it keeps the moisture and adds that natural sweetener of fruit. If you are not a cooked fruit type of person, greek yogurt works as well and adds a creamy texture to cookies
- Cranberry-Orange Nut cookies: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/cranberry_orange_nut_cookies.html
- 2). Use oat-flour or add in some fiber! I know, fiber cookies seems just wrong. But trust me, they are delicious. Not only are whole wheat and oat flours better for you, they also keep you fuller longer. Who doesn’t love a cookie that doubles as a health bar?
- http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/ginger_crinkle_cookies.html
- 3). Be weary of frosting and artificial glazes, they can be secret hiding places for saturated and trans fats (yikes!) So instead, make your own al natural glaze that tastes just as good without the hidden fats.
- Healthy cookie glaze (and chocolate glaze)
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2-2 1 tablespoon warm water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, or orange juice (or lemon or lime juice)
- Step 1
Combine sugar with water to achieve the desired consistency in a small bowl. Add vanilla extract or orange juice (or lemon or lime juice). Step 2 Add a little food coloring to each bowl and mix well. (Paste food colors give the most vivid results.) Allow glazed cookies to dry completely before packaging or storing. - Chocolate glaze:
- 12 ounces semisweet chocolate
- 2 ounces clarified butter
- Melt the 2 ingredients together in the top of a double boiler or a bowl set over simmering water.
Delicious good for you hors dourves: Appetizers can set the mood for any meal, and in some cases, have just as many calories and grams of fat as the main entrée!! Those creamy dips and finger pastries are often full of hidden calories and gasp! trans fat. What is scarier about these bite size fat traps are the fact that they are smaller portions, which make it much easier to overeat. When you’re making an appetizer, a dip or a pastry puff, lighten up the recipe by using fat-free or low sodium ingredients and when you can, use free, naturally flavored ingredients.
- http://www.recipe.com/recipes/healthy/meals/appetizers/. This website has a ton of great and healthy appetizer recipes!
- Spinach stuffed mushrooms: These are to do for! Make plenty because these little numbers will go fast!
- 1 package frozen spinach
- 12 large mushrooms
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup reduced fat cheese
- Olive oil for cooking – about 2 tablespoons
- You may substitute fresh spinach or swiss chard for the frozen spinach.
- Cocktail consumption: The holidays aren’t the holidays without a little (or in my family, a lot) of booze. Although alcohol makes the holidays a little brighter (and family a bit more bearable), it also is a main contributor in the extra holiday budge . Why? Many of us struggle with having just one drink, and a glass of red wine, for example, can contain up to 120 calories per 8 oz glass. That really adds up when you’re pounding them back. The American Heart Association came out with a study that says one glass of red wine a day can help lower your risk for cardiovascular disease, so if you can, limit yourself to just one cocktail. But realistically speaking, it’s the holidays, and I know I will not be sticking to the one drink minimum. So if you are like me, and plan on having more than one, justify it by eating a bit less that night or exercising for an extra 15 minutes. The holidays are all about give and take, and I’ll give just about anything for another glass of vino!
- Now, if you are a mixed drink person and love to mix your own drinks, watch out for juice and fruity mixers, as these are very high in sugar and are often made with little to no real juice and high fructose corn syrup. Try mixing with seltzer water, diet soda (if you must) or lime/lemon juice.
- Christmas isn’t christmas without eggnog, and this hearty, rich beverage is delicious when paired with Captain Morgan spiced rum. Realistically, you can substitute eggnog for it’s healthier versions (such as soy eggnog or fat-free) but I’m a firm believer in the original eggnog, and refuse to substitute. Luckily, eggnog is thick and has a pudding like texture, so I often replace it with dessert!
So at your next holiday soiree, don’t let yourself get overwhelmed or sucked into the buffet tables allure! Stand strong and follow these few simple rules and you’ll find yourself ready and able to overcome the mountain of temptations that decorate the holiday table. The less time you spend overeating or worried about calories, the more time you’ll have to enjoy laughing and experiencing what the holidays are truly about; spending time with the ones you love.
- A study done at Vanderbilt found that laughing burns an average of 1.3 calories per minute!
So this season, LAUGH IT UP!
Claire
Tags:healthy appetizers, healthy recipes, holiday hors devourse, laughing, passing up buffet
Holiday eating Part 1: How to avoid resembling St. Nick
It’s officially holiday season! Holiday commercials are on after my favorite shows, christmas music is blaring in Starbucks, the air has that it’s-almost-winter crisp and the smells of the season are being spritzed at every department store. This is my favorite time of year. However, like everyone on this planet, is not my healthiest time of year either. I indulge on one too many holiday cocktails, eat a few too many cookies and load my plate with all of the holiday stuffings, puddings, mashes and pies. Holidays are not just for giving, they are for eating. Lots and lots of eating. Which, if you’re not careful, can equal to a few, unwelcome pounds.
I’ve had my holidays where i’ve forgone the normal eating habits and stayed in a perfect size 4. and I’ve had my holidays where I’ve gorged myself and gained a few more than the standard 2 pounds (up to 10 once!) Now as a smarter and wiser gal with 23 years of holiday experience, I can say that neither of those options were smart. I was either left feeling hungry and sullen or bloated and regretful, which are not the emotions one should associate with the holidays. So this year, I vow to not feel any of those. I vow to feel happy, great, sexy, thankful, comfortable and happy. When I tell my girlfriends this they encourage me and toast to my new found holiday success, but then, as I walk away, I can hear them go “how on earth is she going to realistically not gain weight?’ Truthfully, I’m grappling with that myself. I know it won’t be easy to stay svelte during the thanksgiving feast and christmas parties, but realistically, it’s not impossible. So i’ve created a holiday game-plan that will keep me in shape and happy during the holidays without feeling hungry or bloated. Each day I’ll share a tidbit on how to beat the holiday bulge.
1. Holiday eating
Eating is what the holidays are all about. and why shouldn’t they? Look at what is served traditionally? Succulent hams, hearty stuffings and creamy desserts. And the cocktails, who could forget? Rich reds and luscious hot chocolate are what create that certain holiday smell that radiates from houses and kitchens everywhere. That smell is like poison gas to dieters, and women alike. So how do we indulge in this “poison” while still fitting into our sexy party dresses? Easy. Be realistic and smart in your holiday eating game plan.
Eating before the party
Before you dress and slip on your heels, make sure to put something in your stomach. I know, seems ludicrous to eat before you go and, well, eat, but it’s the smartest way to avoid over-indulging or binging once you get there. The biggest diet mistake I hear about and read about are women starving themselves before the Thanksgiving dinner or before their work holiday party. You’ll end up feeling ravished and eating just about anything you get your hands on. Before any event, eat like you normally would on any other day, just a tad bit lighter before a big dinner. These light and filling meals will keep you full and satisfied before the party/dinner even begins.
BREAKFAST
Egg taco: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/quick_breakfast_taco.html Sounds weird, I know. But this out of the ordinary breakfast dish gives you enough protein to keep your hunger at bay and gives your taste buds a little kick with the salsa. I like my eggs with a little spice, so I usually add a bit of chili powder or a dash of cayenne pepper to give my eggs more of a punch. (Cumin and cayenne pepper can increase your metabolism by up to 25 percent and garlic can help tear down small amounts of fat!) So spice it up!
Bran muffins: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Classic-Bran-Muffins/Detail.aspx These have got to be my absolutely favorite breakfast treat. Bran is naturally high in fiber (which take your body longer to digest, therefore keeping you fuller longer) and low in fat. I love to add cranberries, blueberries and applesauce to these to make them just a bit sweeter.
Cereal: You can’t go wrong with a bowl of Cheerio’s or All Bran. Trade in your regular milk for skim or soy and always read the labels before you buy. As a obessive label reader, I refuse to buy cereal that has high sugar or hidden corn syrup.
SNACK
Apple slices with peanut butter: Nothing beats this delicious snack! The apple gives you a bit of sweetness and the peanut butter, which is high in monounsaturated fats (the good kind!) is also full of protein. I like to add just a bit of honey to the peanut butter for even more sweetness.
Healthy trail mix: Mix whole-wheat pretzels, wheat Chex, Craisins or raisins, chocolate chips, and nuts together for a snack that is quick, is easy to eat on the go, and has the sweet/salty texture I am always craving.
Veggies and dip: I’m a huge fan of the veggie/dip combo! However, these dips are often high in fat, so try to stick to the healthy, low-fat kind or make your own! I usually mix low-fat or fat-free Greek yogurt with a packet of Lipton onion soup mix. Healthy and easy!
Now, these are just a few of my pre-party/big dinner favorites! For more light recipe ideas, check out http://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy-eating/index.html; www.eatingwell.com; http://www.self.com/fooddiet/2009/06/30-healthy-snacks
Stay tuned tomorrow for what to bring to holiday gatherings and how to eat without busting your seams.
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