26. Ditto that low-carb diet bar with the artificial sweetener. Approach those with caution; some chemical sweeteners have a laxative effect— and your scheduled run isn’t until later on this afternoon. ;-)
27. Step right up! Take the stairs; one at a time, two at a time, three if your legs are unusually long. Forwards, backwards, up and down— even sideways! Work those muscles; burn that fat!
28. Become a label-reader. Think that breakfast bar you grabbed running out the door is a good choice, just because it has whole oats? Well, not if it also contains high-fructose corn syrup, a laboratory-created substance formulated by adding enzymes to corn syrup after it has been processed from corn starch. HFCS is 55 percent glucose and 42 percent fructose. Read: bad for diet.
29. Buddy up. Enlist your dieting buddy in your joint effort to be the two hottest women at the holiday party this year. Pull Christmas cookies out of each other’s mouths; bring Ziploc bags of carrots to work for each other. Go shopping together for great dresses. See Tip #4.
30. Volunteer to help clean up after holiday meals. You can burn up to 200 calories just washing dishes.
31. Stop eating when you’re full.
32. Become familiar with the phrase, “I’ll have a white wine spritzer.” Half the wine, half the calories— and you won’t end up making out with the busboy/waiter/bartender/coat check girl because you got too drunk at the party.
33. Use a smaller plate at the buffet. It holds less; you’ll eat less. You may have to make an extra trip back to the display, but that’s OK— walking is good exercise.
34. Take yourself and the dog for a good long walk after dinner, instead of slouching on the couch in a pumpkin-pie stupor.
35. Eat slowly. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to register that it’s full. Become a nibbler.
36. Throw a “Healthy Holiday Party.” Ask everyone to bring something; homemade guacamole or salsa with baked whole-grain chips, baby carrots and humus, fresh fruit platters, dry-roasted salt-free pecans, almonds and walnuts, organic white wine.
37. Look for healthier, low-fat alternatives when baking holiday goodies. Try some of the awesome recipes from this website!
38. Walk to the post office at lunchtime to mail that Christmas package. Walk to Starbucks at lunchtime for a hot cup of joe (black or with low-fat milk) or some pomegranate green tea. Walk to that gift shop you never have time to browse in. Lunch hour = walk. Eat turkey on whole wheat with lettuce and tomato, or salad with grilled chicken and balsamic dressing— then, grab your coat and hat and go!
