I recently received one of those forward emails, and it was one of the few I actually took the time to open and read. I thought it would serve well as our Christmas post. We’ve shared a lot of holiday dieting advice to help get you through the season – hopefully you’ll be able to indulge today without thinking twice. By no means do we want to take some of these diet “tips” too seriously, but what fun is it if we can’t poke fun at ourselves or the situation sometimes? Happy holidays from all of us at DietsInReview.com.
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls. Aren’t carrots for Easter?
2. Drink as much eggnog as possible. And quickly. It’s rare. You cannot find it any other time of year except now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies or pralines in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all costs. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
Original author unknown.
I agree completely, what stupid thought, why would you not be able to put carrots on a table for Christmas.
That is a great list of not great tips :)! It does poke fun at all the poor dieters over Christmas, but there is also some truth to it too. My hubby and I diet all year long (for the most part), but two weeks before Christmas we let it all fly out the door. We love egg nog, puddings, pies, gravy, mashed spuds, and all the other seasonal treats and for those two weeks before xmas we don’t hold back. Also, the exercise becomes very minimal and we hunker down in our house like two bears preparing for winter hibernation.
I guess the point is that you have to let yourself indulge from time to time. After our Christmas debauchery we get right back on the wagon again, even more into our diet now that we’ve given ourselves a treat and a break from the same old routine. With the Christmas diet break combined with a few days of indulgence on special occassions throughout the year we keep ourselves sane while dieting.