To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year.
~Elwyn Brooks White

A Survival Guide To Holiday Eating

Here’s some scary food for thought: to gain five pounds from now to the end of January, all you have to do is eat an average of 200 calories per day more than you need -- an ounce of fudge here, an ounce of gravy there, some pecan pie. If you need to ‘get a grip’ on eating splurges, the winter holiday months are key to your long range planning. The holidays typically encourage people to indulge in high-fat, high-calorie foods that are low in nutrients, and this is also the time we’re most likely to make excuses for skipping exercise.

One of the most significant diet dangers revolves around sugar consumption. Problems arise from riding on a sugar roller coaster. When you binge on sugar, you crave more and more and your body slows down. Along with sunlight deprivation, sugar binges cause a drop in serotonin, a chemical in the brain that regulates sleep and appetite. A lack of serotonin is often associated with depression. When you’re deprived of serotonin, you won’t feel calm and in control.

To help boost your serotonin level naturally, eat small but frequent meals that include complex, starchy veggies. You can also help control blood sugar levels by eating small quantities of protein three times a day. For example, eat two egg whites in the morning, some turkey at lunch and a small portion of grilled fish at night.

You should keep up your regular exercise during the holidays and accept no excuses. When endorphins are high, you’ll cope better with stress, and regular exercise boosts endorphins.

Here are some other holiday survival tips:

• Exercise an hour a day during the holidays. Exercise to burn calories, relieve stress, and elevate your endorphins and mood such as a brisk walk, run, or bike-ride.

• Avoid eating no fat. Eating moderate amounts of fat during the holidays will satiate the appetite and prevent overeating of carbs (about 35-65 grams per day will be sufficient for most people.)

• Don’t skip meals. Hunger and low blood sugar lead to overeating.

• Don’t pass up favorite foods or deprive yourself completely. Moderate consumption is the key.

• Don’t tempt yourself by keeping trigger foods or comfort foods around the house. If you have them, it certainly increases the likelihood that you will overeat.

• Plan meals by keeping in mind the demands you’ll have on your schedule that day.

• Don’t go to a party starving. Before you leave home, eat something light or drink a protein shake. Also drink a great deal of water the day of the party.

• When you attend holiday festivities, don’t station yourself near the buffet table. Make a clear-cut decision to distance yourself from all goodies.

• Alcoholic beverages pack on the calories so if you’re drinking alcohol, stick to light beer or a champagne spritzer.

• If you do find yourself feeling depressed, soothe your spirit with a massage, manicure, pedicure, or facial. Men can enjoy this too!

• When you shop, eat before you leave home so you won’t resort to cookie breaks.

• To satisfy your sweet tooth, set limits. For example, you might allow yourself two desserts per week at 250 calories each.

• Just because it is the holidays doesn't mean you should give yourself the license to eat everything that passes by. Factor in the little extras into your daily intake.

• Help out by saving fat and calories when it’s feasting time. Make or buy wild-rice stuffing, baked sweet potatoes, whole-grain rolls and angel-food cake with fruit.

• If you are staying with family or friends ask them if you can have a space in the refrigerator and keep foods on hand to snack on like lean deli meats, cottage cheese, nonfat cheese sticks, etc.

• If you tend to overeat during family gatherings, plan and visualize what and how much you will eat before you go.

• If you want to really keep yourself honest (the same size) during the holiday season wear your most form-fitting blue jeans. Another trick is to tie a string or ribbon around your waist (under your shirt) that will not budge with the bulge.

• If you are at the mercy of the dinner host, eat modest amounts of the foods offered and fill up on foods with more fiber and fewer calories. Make a small plate and skip the seconds.

• Eat whatever you want on the main holiday feast. If you over do it just go back to your regular plan the next day.

• Take a meditative moment at least 1 time ever day to breathe deeply, and clear your mind of all the clutter.

• Enjoy the season, not just the food!

Holiday Fitness and Health Ideas

How Much of America Works The Holiday?

Employees may get away from the office during the holidays, but most of them will be taking their work with them. Just as technology has made it simpler than ever to work on the go, it's also easing holiday stress.

Findings from a national survey by InterCall, the world's largest conferencing and collaboration provider, revealed that 74% of the workers surveyed plan to work over the holidays. Additionally, 72% of those surveyed find that the ability to work remotely makes their lives easier.

According to the survey, workers use a combination of conferencing, instant messaging, cell phones, landlines and e-mail when working away from the office. The primary technologies used are e-mail and mobile phone, although 21% will use conferencing to remotely connect with colleagues and customers during the holidays this year.

The survey also revealed where Americans will be working from:
-- 85% will use their home office;
-- 24% will work at a family member's home;
-- 18% ignore travel delays at the airport by working;
-- 17% report working while shopping and running errands;
-- 15% work while they're vacationing at a resort or hotel;
-- 6% plan to work in bed;
-- 2% work while working out at the gym; and
-- 2% are working instead of mingling at holiday parties.

Technology today is allowing people to become more connected than ever, and workers are taking advantage of that luxury. The result of this connectivity is that lines are being blurred between work and play. Today, workers are using technology as productivity tools to build a better balance between work and their everyday life.

Clearly, technology is evolving from a convenience to a benefit.

According to Bob Wise, vice president of marketing and strategic development for InterCall, "Technology is empowering workers to take control over where and when they want to get work done. People can get more done when they use technology in the way that's most productive for them."

InterCall is the world's largest conferencing and collaboration provider, offering audio, video and Web conferencing services, unified communications and other business communication tools. For more information on the company's products and services, please visit http://www.intercall.com/.

The survey was conducted online among a nationally representative sample of American workers in December 2007, with 2,836 workers responding.

Source: PRNewswire

A Christmas Delight - Stuffed Baked Ham

Nothing says "I labored over this meal like a slave" like a delectable main course, such as something like our Stuffed Baked Ham we'll be discussing today. The best part is, despite what looks to be an arduous and tiring process, this Ham is EASY to make! While you're working on other dishes during the preparation of Christmas Day's meal, you can do so with a little ease of mind as you throw this thing in once it's done, and get back to your other dishes.