Making This Your Best Holiday Season Ever

By guest columnist Richard R. Rubin, PhD, CDE, American Diabetes Association’s Past-President, Health Care and Education

Staying on track during the holiday season is a real challenge for me, especially when it comes to my healthy lifestyle goals. ‘Tis the season for special occasions and special temptations. The holiday season brings a shift in routines, with (hopefully) more time off of work, festive gatherings traditional family meals, extra time to relax and be with your family, and lots and lots of opportunities to eat.

For most of us the holiday season is the best of times and the worst of times. We love to celebrate, but we hate what celebration can do to our waistlines and our blood glucose levels.

What’s the right approach? Should you let yourself go and indulge fully in the holiday spirit, consequences be damned? Or should you resist the festivities to keep your blood glucose levels where you want them to be?

Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages; each approach also has its adherents. Naturally, most people don’t go to either extreme; they indulge some, but try not to go too far.

Here are some tips you might find helpful to find the balance between indulgence and prudence that work for you; tips for making this your best holiday season ever.

• Live the true spirit of the holidays. The winter holiday season is about love and miracles. Chanukah celebrates the miracle of the lights, Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, and Kwanzaa celebrates the “first fruits” of African-American culture.

  When we celebrate these miracles and the wonderful traditions they reflect, we should also take time to celebrate our own personal miracles — our lives, our families, and our friends. We live in challenging times, and that is another reason to truly cherish all of our blessings and live the true spirit of the holiday season.

• Give yourself a gift. Most of us put lots of thought into picking just the right holiday gifts for loved ones. But how many of us do the same for ourselves? Think of something you would really like for the holidays that you are unlikely to get from anyone else. Take a moment right now to write it down and put your note some place you will see it again. Then put the item on your list and shop for it as carefully as you do your other special holiday purchases; if your gift is something you can’t buy right now, a weekend at the beach with your spouse next spring for example, make a plan to see it will happen.

• Stay active. Holiday time is food time. There is a lot of it and much of it is high in fat and calories. But it tastes so good. No one can resist completely. That is why it is so important to stay active, or even to add a little extra activity to help balance the extra eating.

  Taking a walk with loved ones can be a great way to visit, have fun, and give everyone the benefit of being away from food for a little while. If you are already active consider trying something different for the holidays, dancing for instance. Just put on your favorite dance music and enjoy.

• Banish from your house holiday treats you can not resist. I have a problem — if something is left over I feel it is my responsibility to finish it. It almost does not matter what food is left over or how much of it there is — I will do my level best to finish it. If you are like me, resist the temptation to accept luscious leftovers to take home from meals with family and friends. Just as important, when the meal is at your house, encourage your guests to take home anything you can’t freeze or serve in the next day or two.