I make it a point to repost my “rules” with a quick touch up each year. Please see below & follow through for this years holiday season.
In my imaginary “perfect” life –  cake is my favorite food group and I eat strawberry cupcakes for breakfast instead of oats topped with strawberries. I LOVE the holidays, not only because it’s a time to celebrate one another but because I allow myself to indulge ever so slightly more than the usual. This starts with Thanksgiving, but my birthday month is really when the madness begins.

2016 will be the 4th Thanksgiving meal i’ve hosted for friends here in NYC. The meal is filled with the richest southern touched comfort foods and enough booze to turn the turkey-itus into a coma. I thrive on creating a memorable atmosphere for all who generously give this epic holiday to me yearly. We all should be able to eat and drink merrily without exclusion at least once a year. After all, I prep and grind the entire year towards goals of my own making. This year I hit 35 and i’m still celebrating health, wealth and fitness goals. I will eat like a queen and drink like a pirate. Here we go again …

Here is an easy list of (not so obvious) tips I’ve compiled to keep you from having to drop newly added pounds before you watch the ball drop…

Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water.

Hunger is all in the mind – if you fill yourself up with water there won’t be much room for anything else. Of course, I start and end each day with a mason jar of my Infused Water. I like the idea of doing something extra healthy for my body without trying – I am hydrating and ingesting good things from the fruits and veggies at the same time.

*ALSO, If you plan on drinking – it’s a great idea to stay hydrated. Your head will thank you in the the morning.

Eat low to high – calorie intake 

Start with bigger portions of soup or salad then move on to proteins then sides. By the time you reach dessert perhaps you’ll just need a few bites instead of an entire plate.

Be real

This is maybe the most useful bit of information I’ve found. The average American gains at least three pounds from Halloween to New Year’s. That said, how about focusing on maintaining as opposed to losing weight for the season?

Drink Lightly

Around the holidays there is always some beverage that has some kind of seasonal tweak, whether it’s pumpkin spiced blah blah blah or a pomegranate margarita. More than likely the little extra something adds sugar and calories to these festive drinks. I’m totally against them all, (except egg nog) I skip them and stick to my usual neat drink. But if you must – take it easy, maybe stick to adding just a shot of holiday flavor to your regular drink or four ounces of a red wine to keep the calories down. After all … who wants to be the holiday party drunk? (we’ve all seen it!)

Don’t come hungry

The holiday season brings on invites to events you forgot you ever knew about. From fundraisers to office parties, don’t expect to get your fill there. Chances are the food will be FREE and high in fat, coming hungry will force you to overindulge. Nine out of ten of us will overeat if we skip meals, so eat lightly (clean fruits and vegetables) beforehand. This leads me to the next tip.

Bring a healthy dish

If you’re invited to a dinner party or office gathering that constitutes some kind of offering to the fellow masses, bring something healthy. And of course, according to me healthy can also mean quick. Pick up a festive fruit or vegetable tray or simply spice up some fat-free applesauce.

Dress to form

This may be my favorite tip of all time. Wearing form-fitting clothing, or things that fit perfectly, instead of loose-fitting clothing will keep you cautious of gluttony (especially the ladies). No one wants a bulge, or to appear larger than they are.

Size always matters

In the case of buffet situations grab the smallest plate. There are usually smaller plates by the appetizers and desserts; use those for your main meal as well.

Plan

Plan your parties and events.  If you have more than one or two in a day or week, be sure you supplement the extra with a little more cardio and limit eating and drinking accordingly.

Don’t loose your mind

Fit in your gym schedule any and everywhere you can. Don’t abandon your regular routine – if you must, create a holiday plan that works around your festive schedule. All it takes is a PLAN.

It’s OK to say no

In General, say no – to problem foods and second helpings, say no to events that infringe on your gym schedule or perhaps cause stress. Say no to people who expect too much from you without giving over the stressfull holiday months.

Lastly, don’t panic – One day of overeating isn’t going to dent your sofa, what really matters is the amount and types of food eaten over time. Stay aware and enjoy.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

#therobertashow