Ahh the holiday work lunches are piling up!

Well we are officially into the holiday season and that means office lunches, parties, and family gatherings. And guess what they all have in common? Food! If you work in the corporate world this is the month where everyone wants to take you for lunch, which is very nice but hard on the waist line.  With evenings full of company parties, family gatherings, cookie exchanges and open houses its no wonder the pounds pile on.

Here are a few tips to curb the holiday weight gain:

Work Lunches:
1. Only attend two lunches a week, the remaining three days pack an extra healthy lunch.
2. Do not drink at lunch, it will lower your inhibitions and next thing you know you are eating cheesecake!
3. Do not order dessert, EVER!
4. Order an appetizer as your main dish
5. Avoid heavy foods like pasta which will make you lethargic in the afternoon
6. Skip the bread bowl.
7. Avoid menu items which say; cream, rosé or sauteed these are all delicious code words for butter, cream and fat!
8. Drink plenty of water before and during your meal
9. Order broth based soups and salads with grilled chicken or fish.
10. Stop eating before you feel full.

Evening parties, buffets:
1. Do not "save" calories by not eating all day you will just overeat at the party!
2. Eat a small healthy snack before you go.
3. Scan the buffet before you start filling your plate so you know what's coming.
4. Fill three quarters of your plate with veggies, leave a small space for lean protein and a complex carb.
5. Use a salad plate not a dinner plate.
6. If you must have dessert choose one small item only.
7. Limit or eliminate your alcohol consumption.
8. Do not stand next to the buffet table, mingle!


Cookie Exchange:
I was in a cookie exchange a few years ago and I had to bake 13 dozen cookies! Yes you read that correctly, 13 DOZEN!! And do you know what happens at a cookie exchange? You come home with 13 dozen cookies!!!! Cookie exchanges were created by the Devil.

1. Eat normally the day of the cookie exchange
2. Drink lots of water, dehydration appears first as hunger
3. Do not sample every type of cookie, choose one or two must haves, that's it!
4. When you return home immediately put the cookies into gift bags or tins and give to neighbors, family etc. Get them out of the house!
5. Do not put them in the freezer incase company stops by....that company will be you at 2am. Get them out of the house!

Enjoy the holidays and time with friends and family. Add a few extra minutes to your workouts and relax!