Welcome to secrets news Xmas/New Year issue 14

Anti-stress survival guide to ... Christmas and New Year

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support of Slim Secrets in 2006. You have helped make it a VERY exciting year for this new brand on the block!

I look forward to sharing another great year with you all.

Slim Secrets wishes you and your families a happy, healthy, safe and prosperous Festive Season and New Year.

Be safe and have fun

Warm wishes
Sharon

Christmas should be fun but – if you're not careful – it can also send your stress levels soaring. We are busy for weeks before the festive holiday even starts, buying presents, working longer hours and going to parties. We overload our bodies with rich food and stimulants – like alcohol and caffeine (which in moderation is fine) – which increase stress. Many of us also have high expectations of Christmas/New Year which can be stressful.

One of the main causes of non-hungry eating which can lead to weight gain is stress eating. Since you don’t want to sabotage your good health intentions by stress induced eating, I have provided you with some stress busting tips to help reduce the festive pressures and help make Xmas an enjoyable experience.

1. Shopping

Gift-buying can be one of the most stressful aspects of Christmas, but there are things you can do to relieve the pressure;

• Don't wait until Christmas Eve to buy your gifts. Do your shopping over several weeks or months to spread the cost and have more time.
• Buy gifts online to spend less time in crowded shops, which can be stressful and exhausting. This also helps if you are working long hours and can’t get out to the shops or just don’t have the energy. Gift certificates are also a great idea!
• Use mail order catalogues, but make sure to order goods well in advance to avoid postal delays or stock shortages.
• Decide how much you can afford to spend on your family, friends and work mates and stick to it. You don’t want to put undue pressure on yourself financially as that is also a main cause of stress.

2. Food and drink

Christmas often means eating a diet high in salt, sugar and stimulants, like alcohol and caffeine, which can make feelings of stress worse. However if you do this in moderation, you'll feel less anxious and have more energy.

• Not only is alcohol full of calories but it also increases stress. Offer to drive occasionally when you go out, provided you can stay on the wagon. Or at least drink a glass of water between every alcoholic drink to prevent dehydration and a hangover the next day.
• Carbonated mixers, such as tonic, increase absorption of alcohol so choose fruit juice instead.
• Drink less caffeine – it adds to stress and drains your energy levels in the long term.Cut down on smoking which increases stress too.
• Antioxidants can help to relieve the effects of stress. Good sources are red fruit and vegetables, like tomatoes, peppers, grapes and cherries and nuts.

Try not to get too stressed if you over indulge once or twice. Once you begin to change the way you view your relationship with food, understanding that quality food aids in long term weight loss and frequent and smaller portions support an elevated metabolism, you’ll begin to seek a meal 5 to 6 times per day. And over 6 weeks during the holidays this accounts for 220 meals in total. If you’re putting in the better choices most of the time, believe me, you aren’t going to add to your waist line during those 12 indulging holiday meals!

The bottom line is you don’t need to deprive yourself or experience all those guilty feelings when you decide to eat some of your favorite foods. Make wise food choices most of the time and add some resistance training and cardiovascular exercise into the mix. These steps will help you to win your Xmas/New Year food/drink battle.

3. Christmas day

• Try not to have expectations that are too unrealistic and remember that if things go wrong, it's not the end of the world.
• Planning is crucial. Write a list of what you have to do, such as when to start cooking, and then stick to it.
• Try out new recipes before the big day so they don't go wrong.
• Don't do everything yourself. Get other people to help, such as your mum laying the table or your partner looking after people's drinks.
• Encourage everyone to be honest about what they want to do for Christmas. You may learn that your relatives don't really want to visit you every year, or don't mind if you'd rather go abroad.
• Avoid tensions by reaching a compromise on what the family wants to do rather than let one person have their way.

4. Relaxation

Giving yourself time to relax is important in avoiding Christmas stress.

Exercise is a great stress reliever. Take a walk as often as possible rather than staying indoors throughout Christmas.

• Laughter can relieve stress.
• Book a massage or facial even if you think you are too busy. You won’t regret it!

There are so many ways to beat stress but you need to choose what works best for you.

ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS!

Read more secrets from Sharon's Blog.

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