The Holiday Party Dilemma

Article from Julie Luther of Julie Luther's PurEnergy Health and Wellness.  Check out her link to her site on the sidebar!!!!  Thank you so much Julie for this information!!!!!!!!!!

 

The holiday season is upon us.  This can mean a barrage of parties and gatherings that spell disaster for your waistline.  In fact the research shows that the average American adds a whopping five pounds to their waistline in the five short weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.  How can you have all the fun you want and still weigh no more on January 1 than you do today?  Arm yourself with some knowledge of the number of calories in some of your favorite holiday foods and drinks and find a way to work off the extra calories!

 

The fact of the matter is 3500 calories = one pound (gained or lost).  So when you consume an extra 500 calories daily, you gain 1 pound of ugly fat per week.  And believe me it is certainly easy to consume 500 calories at a party.  Here are some examples of typical party foods and drinks and their accompanying calories.

• The Neighborhood Party

The hosts are serving all sorts of fattening foods and plenty of wine. Yummy!  So you opt for a glass of wine and head for the cheese and cracker tray... 

            One 5 oz. glass of wine = 100 calories 

            4 crackers = 70 calories

            1 oz cheese = 120

Total = 290 calories

Now, be realistic.  You are at the party for a couple of hours.  Do you stop with just one (5 oz.) glass of wine and 4 crackers?  Ok, so let’s double the amount.  That adds up to 580 calories.  Being realistic still, do you think you will stop with 10 oz. of wine and 8 crackers??  Anyway you get the picture.

• The Office Party

Your office is hosting a “bring your own dessert” party.  While your co-workers are loading their plates with a little of everything, you choose a slab of coconut cake and a cup of coffee. 

            Coconut Cake = 398 calories

            Coffee with creamer = (1 tablespoon) 40 calories

            Sugar = (1 tablespoon) 15 calories

            Total = 453 calories

So as you see it is super easy to eat the calories.

To work them off however takes time and effort. For example for a 150 man to exercise off 500 calories requires that he either…

• Jog for 1 hour and 20 minutes at 6 mph
• Bike for 50 minutes at 12 mph
• Walk for 90 minutes at 4.5 mph

 

So if you plan on partying…wake early to exercise the calories off FIRST, to earn the luxury of partying later in the day!