Holidays! Parties! HELP!!!

Most of us put on a few pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Why is that a surprise?  There are more parties during this period than the other eleven months combined, and we're all busy baking bizarre numbers of sweet treats in the name of tradition.  Once the dust settles and we stow our party manners for another year, those pounds will come off again, but if you're starting to get anxious, read on.

Don't let your fitness program fall completely by the wayside this time of year, but be reasonable.  Even though you might be accustomed to working out faithfully five days a week, that may be unrealistic during the holidays.  Allow yourself an abbreviated version of your normal routine.  If you usually exercise out for an hour a day, aim for half an hour a day or an hour every other day.  Use that time wisely (and vigorously), and then get on with other things.

Maintaining an exercise program is half the battle during the holidays.  Surviving parties is the other half.  Here's a handy tip I bet you've heard before: "Just before you leave for the event, eat an apple and drink two large glasses of water.  This will curb your appetite and prevent you from overindulging.  When you arrive, order a glass of water and move to the corner of the room farthest from the food.  Be sure to keep your hands busy with that water and your evening bag, and do not under any circumstances go near the buffet table."  What a jolly evening!  An apple and two large glasses of water?  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  By the time you get to that party, you'll have a bloaty like nothing you've ever experienced and that sparkly little frock you spent last week's salary on will have taken on a life of its own.  Wearing pantyhose?  You might as well proceed directly to your hostess's guest room and lie down on top of the party coats because you'll have lost all interest in living by then.

If you're like me, when Aunt Gertie's cheese puffs are on the buffet table, I'm there.  Here, then, is another alternative: The day of the party, eat a normal breakfast.  If you're accustomed to having a salad or a sandwich for lunch, go for it.  If you usually go out to lunch for a bowl of pasta the size of your purse, cut back a bit.  Mid-afternoon, I don't care how crazy things are, strap on your sneakers and walk as quickly as you can away from your home or office for 15 minutes.  Take three deep breaths, then turn around and walk back just as quickly.  There's your workout for the day.  Now start getting into that spiffy outfit.

When you arrive at the party, order a glass of sparking water or wine and sip it slowly while you stroll the length of the buffet table.  Don't eat a bite until you've seen everything that's available.  And don't waste calories on anything that's at home in your kitchen as we speak.  Mixed nuts?  Don't think so.  Celery and carrot sticks?  Please be joking.  You are hot on the trail of the Chesapeake Bay crab dip and those addictive little sausage and spinach balls that your best friend won't share the recipe for.  Once you've located your quarry, get a small plate and take just one of everything that catches your fancy.  Now find a cozy corner with a couple of friends and savor every morsel.  If you take a bite of something that is not DIVINE, give it away and treat yourself to one more of your favorite things.  And enjoy every mouthful.  This is not the evening to make sacrifices.  You've been doing that all year so you could get into that dress.  Time to have a little fun.

The day after the party, get right back to business as usual.  Eat normally, exercise, and start looking forward to the next party.  During this holiday, pay a little more attention to your spirit.  And enjoy!