Emotional Overeating

Emotional overeating can rise up to attack during the Holiday Season. Self-defeating thoughts can be the stimulus that allows for suppressed emotional business to rise to the surface. Work hard to gain closure on any unfinished emotional business and learn new ways to cope without resorting to food.

• When feeling stressed, identify how you are feeling and why.
• Sometimes just acknowledging and/or talking about your feelings can help.
• "Freeze" your actions when you feel that tug to stuff and cover those feelings with food.
• Be confident that these feelings will pass or lessen as you learn to manage your reactions to those stressful, emotional situations.

Prevent Holiday Weight Gain!

On Thanksgiving Day, Americans eat 25% more than their usual daily calories. Add to that the other holidays of Christmas, Hanukkah and New Years, with 5-6 weeks of parties and extra "goodie eating" opportunities throughout each day! It's hard to get through and not gain weight without a plan.

People with a normal stomach capacity generally feel full with 2 to 2 1/2 cups of food. (The size of 2 fists)

• Remember that overstuffed, too full feeling from previous feasts and how unpleasant (pain) that feeling was? You want to avoid this!
• Take small portions of the foods desired, focusing on your favorites that you usually don't have available. Remember, bread and potatoes are available everyday!
• Share dessert or eat only 1/4 to 1/2, finishing by covering it with your napkin and beginning a conversation with someone.
• No second helpings, ever! Get into this habit! Second helpings add only more calories, and do nothing to help you reach your goals!
• Continuing now with your exercise regime is more important than ever!