Packing on the Holiday Pounds!

  By Jackie Lukas

Now that the holiday season is here... all I can think about is Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas roast, cookies and goodies galore! YUM!!!    The holidays are not only the most festive time of the year - but the food is amazing... and there's plenty of it! Holiday parties, family get-togethers, you name it!

Now, anyone who is close to me knows I LOVE to eat! I'll eat anything and everything. (Ok, maybe not peanut butter...don't ask.) But give me extra bacon - load on the cheese and I'll be a happy woman.   I personally don't have the will power... so I'm not going to deny myself all the delicious holiday treats. The food itself is one of the reasons it's my favorite time of the year!

 

So guess how I felt when I received an email from my wonderful employer Cablevision (the parent company of News 12). It was titled........"Work Healthy. Work Smart. Healthy Holiday Eating Tips" Are you serious!?! Out of all the times in the year, this is NOT when I'm going to be watching my waistline or worrying about the scale!

But just in case you were curious what some of the "healthy tips" were, I'll share a few of my favorites with you... which will include my initial response as well.  

 

Don't treat Thanksgiving like an all-you-can-eat- buffet: Fill your plate half with vegetables, one quarter with a lean meat and the rest with a starch. Eat slowly and stop when you are full.                    My response: If there's going to be one day out of the year anyone should stuff their face and chow down all-you-can-eat style, it's Thanksgiving!

Turkey- go skinless:  Choose your 4-oz turkey portion skinless to cut down on fat and cholesterol. Save your appetite for the side dishes and dessert. My response: The skin is the best part! Especially if it's extra crispy!  

Limit high fat items: Cut down on anything fried, creamy or cheese-filled. My response: I think you know what I'd say to that!  

Drink plenty of water: Alcohol and coffee can dehydrate your body. Drink calorie-free water to help fill up your stomach and keep you hydrated. My response: One glass of wine won't hurt! But don't drink and drive! 

Now if you are one of those health nuts - I hope I'm not offending you! You have every right to cut back and not indulge during the holiday season. But I want you to read this next part. It also comes from the SAME healthy eating email. And it's titled: "The Truth About Holiday Eating"

Myth #1: Most people put on five to seven pounds during the holidays. Reality: The average weight gain during the six-week span from Thanksgiving to New Year's is just under one pound, according to a yearlong study of nearly 200 people published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Even though enjoying delicious holiday dishes might not increase your waistline by as much as you'd expect, calorie consciousness is still important.

I repeat, the average weight gain during the holidays is just under one pound! So there you have it! Please enjoy all the delicious food this holiday season. Stop worrying about calories and be happy! And just think, if you really feel guilty about overeating -- New Years is right around the corner. Your resolution can be to start eating smart and working out. Me... I'll likely break that resolution on January 2nd!

Comments

[Ellen]

Wow Jackie..way to make every girl jealous that you can eat all the bacon and cheese you want -- and still look great. I won't hate you that much, because you seem like a down to earth girl! I saw your Walmart tragedy story on CNN - It's crazy how people can be...my heart goes out to the employee's family. Hope you have a great holiday season

[Pat]

hey Jackie, hope you had a great Thanksgiving!! Hope you did what you said to do and ate lots of great food!!!!!

[Mack Downalds]

I had a turkey named Roger, I loved him.. He was my only friend.. That is why I was so upset when my mom fed him to me for easter last year. I didn't know.. :(. Now I'm a vegitarian!! Jackie I love your neck!!! come snuggle with me ... lets neck!!! lets get wackey me and you jackie!!! PS.. I love your cats...

[Jackie]

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

[Steve]

Jackie,
I'm at work now a me and my co-workers couldn't agree with you more! Especially with these hard times everyone is facing now is the time to just enjoy yourself and your family...And all that wonderful FOOD!! And yes for the record BACON makes everything better!! I'll run an extra mile at the gym next week to shed that extra holiday pound. That being said, now that we know you are a bacon and cheese kinda girl (which confirms that you are the perfect woman), we all want to now how you keep in such good shape? Look forward to the next blog..Happy Hoidays to you and your family!

[Bob]

Also for those watching their health, they have turkeys that do not have any additives or hormones. Nature's Promise is one that states this on their package. They do the same with their chicken. Now i've had that and other chicken that does not say anything about hormones or additives and I can't taste the difference. Have a Happy Thanksgiving y'all.

[John]

"But give me extra bacon - load on the cheese and I'll be a happy woman."

That, and you're a cat person. Sigh...marry me?

No, wait. The peanut butter thing is a deal-breaker. We're breaking up. Can someone get me another intrepid reporter/blogger!?

OK, seriously, while I do get that lots of people are on a health kick, it really doesn't need to be an every-single-day thing. I wish more people realized that. A couple of square inches of cooked turkey skin will NOT cause you to be mistaken for the Goodyear blimp.

Heh...Though it's fair game to claim it will make someone else fat, if it gets you the last slice of apple pie. All's fair in love and pie, after all.

[Tim]

Hey Jackie,

Nice blog you did about eatting on the hoildays. Keep up the good work at News12LI. You are a good reporter out in the field & try to stay warm now when your out in the field.

[larry cj]

HI JACKIE
Great blog I try to keep my self in shape but when the holidays come around in an Italian family there is alot of eating going on ,the food is great ,and like you I stuff my face on the holidays, well I really stuff my face all the time but I don't get fat.I agree with what you said in the blog,and a little glass of wine sometimes is fine and extra crispy turkey skin,, jackie your a woman after my heart. I hope you got my e-mail have a very happy thanksgiving.you take care

[Pat]

I have to agree with you Jackie, Thanksgiving is the one day of the year that you should just stuff your face. I'll admit, i'm not oo big on the holidays. the only one I'm really into is New Year's. I mean, the holiday only come once a year so i say indulge. BTW, what are you saying about watching your waistline. To me it seems you have no problems in that department :) hope to read more from you and hopfully hear from you sometime. Have a great holiday season!!!!