Fit Fare

The countdown to my winter beach vacation has begun: less than 4 weeks until it’s time to get back in a bikini in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. As I shoveled in a second serving of my step-dad’s famous mashed potatoes with broccoli cheese sauce this Thanksgiving, I made myself a bargain. I promised that as soon as I got home, it would be spinning classes in the morning and steamed veggies all night long. But first, just a few more bites.

Of course, once I get home it’ll be holiday parties and holiday lunches, all of which are occasions for cocktails and sweets. It’s a virtual minefield of calories.

December has to be the worst time to diet.

So what’s a girl to do when she wants to drop a few more pounds before baring her turkey-stuffed tummy at the beach?

Because I believe that you teach what you most want to learn, this is for everyone who has a warm weather trip planned this winter. It’s my simple plan for slimming down when the rest of the country seems to be packing it on.

Accept Your Winter Body
First and foremost, accept that your winter body might be different than your summer body. Although our culture doesn’t slow down when the temperature drops, our natural instinct is to do less and eat more. Craving fattier foods is normal and part of our bodies’ defense system against the harsh weather. Embrace the fact that your body is doing what it’s meant to do and find peace in the fact that there may be an extra pound or two when you hit the beach in December. Accepting where you’re at is the first step in heading to where you want to be.

Eat Early
I once did an experiment and stopped eating every day by 5pm. Without cutting back or changing my diet during the day, I lost 3 pounds in 5 days. There’s mixed opinions on eating at night. Some say that it’s not when you eat but what you eat, while others insist that closing the kitchen by a certain hour is a key to weightloss. All I know is what I’ve experienced, and so I’ll be putting down my fork at 5pm Monday - Friday. To make this practical, be sure to bring a sizeable snack to eat at 4:45pm. Greek yogurt and almonds, rice and beans, or veggies and hummus all work great.

Three Bite Rule
Do I really think I’ll go to holiday parties and not eat? As tempting as that may seem in theory, in practice I know myself too well to believe that I’ll go to a party without sampling at least some of the goodies. The key this season will be some. I once heard that after three bites of a dessert you lose the intenseness of the experience. In other words, as you’re licking the plate from that piece of chocolate lava cake, you’re just trying to recreate the feeling and taste you had in the first three bites. Remember the three bite rule and you’ll be able to eat what you want without the guilt.

Move More
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t exercise enough, and by enough, I mean at all. Would it kill me to get back into yoga? Would I be totally deprived if I gave up an hour of sleep in favor of spinning class? The law of weightloss is to eat less and move more. So I’ll be hitting the gym every chance I get. When you have a goal it’s easier to talk yourself into exercising. Commit to the body you want and when you’re tempted to skip a workout you can remind yourself how great it’ll feel to look fabulous on the beach.

Photo courtesy of MorgueFile.com