Halloween is just around the corner – and those bite-sized candy bars and other sweet treats are so tempting, and they’re everywhere! But that is child’s play compared to the real monsters that await:

Thanksgiving.

Holiday parties.

Look around; some of us gained 5 pounds just reading that. We go through a year of ups and downs. Then comes the end of the year, when every relative at family get-togethers acts as if it’s an act of turpitude if we don’t indulge in their waist-
expanding, butt-blubbering, 
artery-clogging holiday delights.

We oblige because, well, it is the time to be thankful, happy and merry, right?

Scrooge that!

Just call me Ebenezer today. This year I am early because we are going to nip this holiday heaviness now!

Cut out this list. Make several copies. Put one on the refrigerator. Another in the wallet. Give one to the significant other. One to the best friend. One to each of the first five co-workers you see this morning.

The goal is not about losing weight this holiday season. This is all about showing that we can control what goes in our mouths every day.

Here are some ways to do it.

Eat before you eat: Yeah, sounds weird, I know. But going to a holiday party on an empty stomach is like going grocery shopping when we’re famished. We have no chance! We leave the store with junk. Eat some good food before going to the party.

Go healthy first: There is research that shows we eat more of the things we eat first. So, at the parties, make sure to eat the low-calorie items first. Do the vegetable tray and hummus before the tortilla chips and seven-layer creamy dip.

Get a plate: Forget the little saucers. Get a regular-
sized plate. Eating from small saucers gives a false sense that we are not eating a lot. It is easy to go back 23 times and lie to ourselves because, “It’s such a small plate.” Stop the lie. Get the big plate. Put a respectable amount of food on it the first time and odds are good that it will satisfy you.

Remember this: Full = Fat. Satisfaction = Sexy. We should eat until are satisfied, not until we are full.

Bring on the exercise party. When putting together the party schedule, add at least 30 minute to an hour of exercise to the “to do” list. We WILL exercise every day we have a party.

Bubbly butts and beer guts: I am not naïve here. I know folks like their alcohol. I will not say we should not imbibe. But I will remind everyone that our bodies metabolize alcohol as fat, and liquid calories accumulate amazingly fast.

H2O: Drink more water. We should be getting in at least half of our body weight in ounces each day. So, if we weigh 150 pounds, we should be drinking at least 75 ounces a day.

BYOF&V: Bring your own fruit and veggie tray to EVERY party. Do that because we know someone is going to have a party with nothing but the aforementioned butt-blubbering items.

Cows graze: Remember, get that plate. Fill it once. Cows eat a little here, then a little there and a little over there. Do not be a cow.

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Bryant is an author and lecturer who holds several national training certifications. Email him at

movingthefuture@gmail.com.

Milo Bryant – Moving the Future