6. You're not hungry, you're thirsty
Often times, what we perceive as hunger pangs are actually due to dehydration. Before diving into a plate of appetizers, test your hunger signal by drinking an 8-ounce glass of water. Wait a minimum of five minutes and pay attention to see if you are indeed still hungry.
7. What about the booze?
To avoid a nasty next-day hangover, alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic beverages. For every glass of wine or beer you drink, follow it with bottled water. If you arrive home and suspect you've over-indulged on alcohol, have one or two 8-ounce glasses of fresh distilled water with a shot of orange juice prior to going to sleep. By doing so, you will help to alleviate some of the headache, dehydration and stomach upset often experienced after a night of partying a little too hard.
8. Eat breakfast
Many people skip breakfast because they do not feel hungry in the morning or are trying to save on calories. Unfortunately, skipping breakfast often results in over-indulging later in the day on the wrong types of foods such as muffins, cookies, cakes, doughnuts and sugary coffee. Even if you are not hungry, start your day off with a light breakfast such as cut-up fruit and yogurt or a protein shake.
9. Lights out, baby!
Over-indulging often occurs when mindlessly munching and drinking in the evening. As a general rule during the holiday season, stop eating by 7 p.m. If you feel the urge to munch, keep a stock of healthy food -- such as air-popped popcorn, cut-up fruits or veggies, herbal teas and healthy trail mix -- in your home.
10. Take care of you
December right through to January is often a time of "overdoing it". If you have overindulged, do not beat yourself up. Simply get back to your healthy eating and workouts the next day and you will balance out all the cheating you may have done.
By taking a little extra care this holiday season, you will be able to enjoy some great food and drink without overindulging and celebrate the new year with health and vigour.
Dr. Joey Shulman D.C., RNCP, is author of Winning the Food Fight (Wiley, 2003) and The Natural Makeover Diet (2006). For more information, visit www.drjoey.com.
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