How to Bounce Back from the Holiday Binge| Recipes Articles

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Food is our common ground, a universal experience.

- James Beard

How to Bounce Back from the Holiday Binge

Okay, so after inhaling an endless supply of gingerbread men, you couldn't resist the Belgian chocolate truffles that sat pathetically in a glass bowl. Before you knew it, you looked pathetic with a sick, guilty look on your face, chocolate in the corners of your mouth and a stack of shiny gold wrappers in your lap.

It happens to the best of us. Especially around the holidays.

"If this happens," says Martha McKittrick, R.D., "don't berate yourself. Nobody's perfect. Life goes on. Just continue to make healthy choices for the rest of the day. Part of life is enjoying the food you eat."

Here are some tips to help you stick to that good old new year's resolution--to help you stay healthy and fit throughout the rest of the year.

Ask Yourself: What Went Wrong? "Did I have too much to drink on an empty stomach?" If so, that could have inhibited the decisions you made about snacking at the party. This is why it's so important to eat a little something before having a glass of wine.

You can start fresh the next day. If you're like me, you might go through sugar withdrawals the next morning and gravitate toward starchy foods. In order to get your body on track, though, McKittrick suggests you make the post-holiday binge day a low-calorie, low-carb one. This does not mean starving yourself, and it does not mean avoiding starches altogether.

-Choose complex carbs, fiber, and protein.

-Drink lots of water to flush out your system. Chances are you'll think you're hungry when you're actually just thirsty.

-McKittrick says a good "recovery breakfast" should include lots of fiber and protein, while reducing carbohydrates to rid the body of excess water.

-An egg or egg white with a slice of reduced fat whole-wheat toast and reduced fat cheese would be ideal. Natural peanut butter on whole-wheat toast is another great option.

Never ever skip meals. Please, let me stress this one more time: do not skip meals. If you do, your body will eventually go into starvation mode, which means it'll burn calories at a slower rate, and you'll end up with more total calories in.

Get Moving. Go for a fast-paced walk or run, or just dance around your house when no one's looking! Upbeat music lifts your spirits, gets you in calorie-burning mode, and diminishes the need for additional mood-boosting foods. What could be better?

Enjoy Yourself. Most importantly, during the holidays and throughout the rest of the year, remember to savor your food. Eat slowly. Don't rush! Enjoy your company, take time to appreciate the meal in front of you. The food won't stay on your plate forever but the memory of it will--if you simply take the time to notice the smells, sounds and flavors around you.