The holidays, as they say, is the most wonderful time of the year, but it's also the time of the year when people worry the most about their eating habits.

It has become a tradition for family and friends, who didn't get to see much of each other during the year, to get together and celebrate. Depending on your social circle, these celebrations can happen as often as several times a week, which means there’s going to be non-stop eating and drinking. Before you know it, your clothes are a little tighter and you've gained a few more pounds.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Here are tips on how we can avoid worrying about our waistlines and enjoy the season.

 

Change your perception of the holidays 

Since the holiday season takes place at the end of the year, we tend to reward ourselves and give in to indulgences at parties. While rewarding yourself after a year of working hard is not necessarily a bad thing, the “minsan lang naman”-thinking tend to cause people to resign to the fact that they will overeat. And then, they feel guilty afterward. One thing we fail to remember about these gatherings though is that it's a time to enjoy the company of your loved ones. It's a time to catch up on each other's lives so focus on the conversations. The food is always just a bonus.

 

Plan parties ahead

Space out your gatherings and avoid scheduling them on consecutive days. Schedule parties every three to four days or even just once a week. This way, you’ll have time to breathe and recover your energy. Be gentle on your stomach, your liver, and your wallet.

 

Eat mindfully and listen to your body

Remember to eat slowly and savor every bite. This will make it easier for you to feel when you’re full. Also, when you have a dinner party scheduled, avoid starving yourself by not eating the whole day. When you attend parties while you’re super hungry, there's a tendency to make impulsive decisions, including ordering and eating too much. Make sure you eat your meals on time and ensure they're nutritious enough that you’ll have the energy to get you through the day, but that you’ll be able to indulge a little bit during dinner.

 

Stop being so hard on yourself 

If you really want to order a dish that you know you might regret in the morning, don’t be so hard on yourself and learn to deal with the consequences. Just make amends by drinking ginger tea at the end of the night to help you digest. Hydrate and make an effort to wake up earlier to do a quick workout.

Here's something a lot of people won't tell you: if you get invited to a gathering, you don't always have to attend. Feel free to say no and there's no need to come up with an excuse. Just thank them for the invite. Reserve your energy and your stomach for the get-togethers that matter most.

We hope these tips help you celebrate a worry-free holiday season and end the year on a high note.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!