Although holidays are meant to bring people together, they can cause a great deal of stress and make you fall out of sync with your daily routine. You may be giving your best effort to stay on track, but are those "healthy" habits really helping you?
Here's a list of several typical mistakes that many of us make during the holidays, and how you can avoid them from now on.
1. You brush your teeth after having some wine.
Wine is acidic and can dissolve tooth enamel, so if you brush your teeth directly after drinking, you may contribute to the erosion or permanent staining. It's best to rinse your mouth with some water, and be sure to sip and swallow immediately, rather than let the wine sit on your teeth.
2. You gorge on dips and casseroles.
Spinach dip must be healthy because it is primarily spinach. Wrong. Creamed spinach can contain up to 75% of your saturated fat for the day. Opt for a salad instead or some fresh vegetables. Green bean casserole is another faux friend. It's chock full of butter, salt, cheese and fried onions, and that all = FAT.
3. You guess when you think meat is done cooking based on its appearance.
Sometimes these old family methods of cooking are not the most accurate -- or safe -- way to determine if a food is actually cooked. Many people rely on the image of meat (color) or juices coming out of it to know when to pull it out of the oven, but it's always best to use a meat thermometer to reduce your risk of foodborne illnesses, according to MSN.com.
4. You wash pre-bagged and pre-washed lettuce a third time.
By touching the lettuce again, you're actually adding more harmful pathogens to the greens. It's best to dump the bag immediately into a bowl and serve.
5. You don't eat at all before attending a party.
Even if you know you're going to a dinner party and there's going to be a smorgasbord of food, you should make sure you've eaten properly beforehand to avoid binge eating unhealthy appetizers and snacks.
6. You plan to limit your calorie intake and start a juice-only diet.
It's one of the worst choices to start a liquid diet. Why? Because you actually deprive your body of the necessary nutrients that you need to feel happy and healthy. Because these diets can burn a lot of fat quickly, they are appealing, but they have the potential to release new toxins into your body. If you're looking to make the new year a healthy one, try consuming more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
7. You overexert yourself at the gym.
If your usual workout lasts 45-60 minutes on average, you may want to consider splitting it up over the course of the day to conserve energy. Doing this will also associate positive feelings with working out, rather than dreading that one hour you feel obligated to commit to. Fifteen minute intervals several times a day are suggested to keep your body moving all day long. Sedentary habits will only bring on weight gain.
8. You pledge to join a gym and say that you will go every day.
Let's be realistic here. If you haven't worked out all year long, you're not going to suddenly wake up on New Year's Day and go to the gym. Think about it for a couple of weeks before you swipe your credit card for a year-long commitment.
9. You allow yourself several cheat days.
This is a recipe for disaster. Essentially, you're consciously trying to lose weight, yet you simply close your eyes when you shovel a brownie down your throat. This doesn't make sense. Everyone deserves a chance to splurge -- a wedding, a birthday party, etc. -- but don't create your own holidays and special events just to make an excuse for why you opted for a burger and fries instead of a piece of grilled chicken.
10. You swear you'll only have "one bite."
If you know that Hershey bars are your weakness and you can't only eat a couple of squares, buy the bite-sized bar, not the king-sized, three-person portion. Do I need to continue, or do you get the point?
