Article Read. You Can Find All Kind of Articles

Home | Search Article

Search

-- All Categories --Auto and TrucksEducationFamilyFood and DrinkGadgets and GizmosHealthHobbiesHome ImprovementKids and TeensLegal MattersParentingPets and AnimalsRecreation and SportsSite PromotionTravel and LeisureWeb DevelopmentWomenWriting
Advanced Search

• Auto and Trucks
• Education
• Family
• Food and Drink
• Gadgets and Gizmos
• Health
• Hobbies
• Home Improvement
• Kids and Teens
• Legal Matters
• Parenting
• Pets and Animals
• Recreation and Sports
• Site Promotion
• Travel and Leisure
• Web Development
• Women
• Writing

---

 by: Pauline Wallin, Ph.D.

The holiday season is coming up fast. For weeks magazines and newspapers have been printing recipes and alluring photographs of rich, mouth-watering goodies such as cookies, candies, dips, and calorie-laden drinks.

Then, in the same issue, they offer guidance on how not to eat all this stuff. Pace yourself, they advise. Limit yourself to one tidbit every half-hour. Eat a salad before going to a cocktail party, so that you wont be tempted by all the snacks. Yeah, right - like my inner brat is going to forego the fondue because I pre-loaded with lettuce.

Nutrition experts tell us that on average, people gain 5-7 lb. during the holiday season.

Its hard to resist all the treats, especially when were faced with them in ads and displays, as well as on counter tops at home, at work and when visiting. Our inner brat nags at us, whining that we really do "need" that extra helping of pie. Or it rationalizes that a couple of cookies dont add up to much, and that we can exercise a little more later.

Controlling your eating is difficult at this time of year. To "just say no" is a good strategy for occasional temptations, but it doesnt work when youre bombarded with images, aromas and offerings of one treat after another.

Self-control is mentally draining. When you repeatedly say "no" to treats, you gradually deplete your mental energy. Thats why most people fall off their diets later in the day, when their strength to resist is at a low point.

A better solution: not confronting the yes/no question in the first place. The secret is to limit your exposure to temptation. Here are some tips:

1. Store treats in the back of a cupboard or fridge. Wrap them in opaque paper or plastic, so that you dont easily notice them.

2. If there are goodies out on counters or desks at work, reroute yourself so that you dont walk by.

3. Avoid reading recipes for calorie-laden foods. When you see photos of cakes and other desserts in magazines, turn the page quickly. Less exposure is less temptation.

4. If you go to business-related holiday cocktail parties, resolve to visit the buffet table only once. If possible, stay no more than half an hour.

5. Spend some time outside every day. Nature helps clear your head, so that your cravings are less noticeable.

6. Get more sleep. Not only will you get the usual benefits of being more alert and less irritable, but research shows that people who sleep more have a better balance of the hormones that regulate hunger - and they weigh LESS than those who dont get enough sleep!

Copyright Pauline Wallin, Ph.D. 2005. All rights reserved

About The Author

Pauline Wallin, Ph.D. is a psychologist in Camp Hill, PA, and author of "Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide for Transforming Self-defeating Behavior" (Wildcat Canyon Press, 2004)

Visit http://www.innerbrat.com for more information, and subscribe to her free, monthly Inner Brat Newsletter.