12 Tips to Keep Your Measurements During the Holidays
I was astonished when I came back last September from Sweden and saw the shelves of our supermarkets filled with Dutch “Sinterklaas” (a children’s festivity on Dec 5th, similar to Christmas) treats. You may think that’s a pleasant homecoming, but, as I am a regularly working model that by all means needs to keep her measurements, I have the rule that I only shop Sinterklaas treats a few days before the festivity. As Christmas treats are also long before Christmas available in the stores, I have the same rule for Christmas treats.
How to Keep Your Measurements
Besides living a healthy lifestyle throughout the year (workout regularly, eat healthy), I have a few more ‘rules’ that I stick to during the holidays to make sure I keep my measurements after the holidays. They might be helpful for you as well, therefore I am happy to share them with you:
Tip 1: Healthify
Make healthy versions of your favorite (Christmas) treats and YOLO food. For example, this chocolate marzipan, spicy ginger bread or traditional Dutch ‘Gevulde Speculaas’ (an almond paste filled spiced cake).
Tip 2: Small Portions
Sure, go ahead, take that dessert, cake or ice cream, but keep your portions small.
Tip 3: Liquids versus Non-Liquids
Be aware: just because something is liquid, it doesn’t mean that it contains less sugar or calories than non-liquids. Be careful with alcohol and chocolate drinks: both contain lots of calories.
Tip 4: Choose
Choose a dessert, a cake, (a few) glasses of wine or a few Christmas cookies or pretzels. Make a choice!
Tip 5: Stop
Stop eating when you feel full. Listen to your body and stop when your body tells you to.
Tip 6: Eat Slowly
It takes at approximately 20 minutes before your brains gets the signal from your stomach that it is full.
Tip 7: Red Sauces and Yogurt Sauces
Mayonnaise contains more fat (and thus more calories) than red, tomato-based sauces and yogurt-based sauces.
Tip 8: Drink Water
Not drinking enough water can cause a feeling of hunger, so chances are that you eat more than necessary when you don’t drink enough.
Tip 9: Breakfast
Do not save on your breakfast to save room for the feast meal. Chances are big that you will be sitting at the dinner table with a rumbling stomach, which will likely make you eat more than if you had eaten your breakfast.
Tip 10: Work Out
Work out in the morning before a festive dinner, as your body needs food after a workout for recovery. Chose strength training and bootcamp kind of exercises over cardio exercises, as you’ll profit from a greater after burn.
Tip 11: Walk
Go for a brisk walk with the whole family half an hour after a festive dinner to burn off the dessert.
Tip 12: No Worries
My final, best and most important tip is to not worry about what you eat during the holidays. It is a time to enjoy and be kind to yourself, by what you eat and with your thoughts. Your life will not suddenly shorten by eating dessert ànd cake right after. Nor will you it make you grow a dress size, as to grow out of your pants, you need to eat an excessive amount of extra food.
Happy Holidays, love, Angela!
Need inspiration for Christmas Eve? Try these healthy recipes:
Sea Salt, Rosemary & Thyme Roasted Root Vegetables
Mango-Beet Timbale with Goat Cheese
Skinny Starter: Fresh and Light Shrimp Cocktail
Angela Willemse
Angela Willemse MSc (30) started modelling at the age of 14. She worked for clients worldwide, ranging from Elle, Vogue and Glamour, to Nivea, Escada and Viktor & Rolf. At the age of 30, she still works as a model. Angela has always liked modelling a lot and she knows from her own experience that modelling can be physically and mentally challenging. Now that she is also a certified freelance health educator and feels highly concerned with the health of other models, she provides models with health information on her blog, Great Body & Skin.
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