December, 1 2009
Helpful Hints For Eating Your Way Through The Holidays
It started last Thursday with a Thanksgiving feast and – at the bare minimum – will include at least a couple more over the top eat-a-thons. From office parties to family gatherings and nights out with friends, there will be plenty of ways to undo your diet between now and January 2, 2010.
If you went overboard on turkey day, it probably didn’t set you back too far. In fact, enjoying carb-laden cheat meals can be just what your mass gaining strategy needs, according to a recent ABB
Breaking News post by Natural Mr. Olympia John Hansen. But if you’re going to gobble down everything in sight every opportunity that’s presented, you might be well on your way to building a physique closer to Frosty the Snowman. Of course, you don’t want to starve yourself down to a pathetic Charlie Brown Christmas Tree twig either. So here are some easy-to-follow rules for eating your way through the holiday season.
You calculate your daily protein intake by the gram. Don’t lose sight of that discipline at major food events. The quantity you eat affects caloric intake more than the types of food you select. So make sure your choices stay in the range of computer mouse to fist-sized servings. This eye-balling lump sum method applies to pasta, rice, fruits, vegetables and meat. The one solid food exception would be helpings of cheese, which you’d want to dial back to around a thumb-sized portion. As for sauces, limit yourself to a taste or avoid them altogether.
Turkey breast is a great source of protein, so make sure to get a full serving. However, you’ll want to remove the skin due to its unneeded saturated fat content. Now what about those candied yams? Maybe stick with plain sweet potatoes or a green vegetable. As tempting as stuffing baked in the bird might be, it’s oozing with unsavory juices that’ll add plenty of unnecessary calories. Substitute a whole grain roll and pass on the butter.
You’re at a gathering of friends and/or family. So what’s your hurry? Tempted as you are to fork down your favorite side dishes with gluttonous zeal, slowing down gives your brain’s satiety mechanism a chance to let the rest of your body know you’re full. The process typically takes about 15 minutes. One simple technique you can use to reduce the pace of eating is to put down your utensils after every bite. Then add something to the conversation. Everyone wants to know how you got yourself so huge and ripped.
Eggnog, Tom & Jerrys, hot chocolate, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages all contain lots and lots of calories. Most people don’t realize how many empty calories they drink every day. During the holidays, special seasonal concoctions can crowd out common sense. It’s not like you can’t enjoy a glass of something here and there. Just exercise moderation. Treating yourself to a 250 calorie family tradition means about 20 extra minutes on the treadmill.
If you’re like most bodybuilders, the cooler Fall/Winter weather and shorter days have you solidly in bulking mode. Holiday feasts can present you with well-timed opportunities to take in more quality calories for fueling sizable gains. As long as you keep your head and apply a slightly looser version of the same dialed in discipline you employ during the other 11 months, you’ll be fine. Bon appetit!
