Last week we discussed how crucial it is for you to have a PLAN to control your calorie intake during the holidays. In fact, on the Grocery Store Tour this last Saturday we really pounded home that if you “fail to plan, plan to fail”.
Today’s tip is even more simple and expands on the premise.
Plan on staying away from the booze.
Look, a drink or two isn’t going to be the end of the world. But when two turns to three…
I’m not getting on my soap box here. I’m just telling you something you already know:
Booze leads to bad decisions. And in this case, we’re talking about bad eating decisions.
When alcohol enters the equation even the best laid plans crumble. The extra calories from the cocktails is one thing. But really it’s the extra calories you chew that start to add up.
One piece of cake turns to two…
A handful of chips turns into a bag…
The dip sitting in front of you mysteriously vanishes…into your belly…
You get the picture. 
Have fun. Enjoy yourself. Just be conscious of what alcohol does to your decision-making.
As far as calories go and alcohol, avoid sugary alcoholic drinks and beer. Not only are they empty calories but, they spike you insulin which triggers your body to store those calories as fat. Choosing hard liquor or wine will give you more bang for your buck with less caloric implications. I have had very few clients able to lose wight and drink any more than a few beers or glasses of wine per week. The bottom line: If you booze, you won’t lose!!
coincidentally, even if you do not drink alcohol, there are plenty of other non-alcoholic holiday libations (virgin egg nog, wassel, apple cider) that can easily slip past your gullet and add inches to your waistline.
Stay Fit,
Mat “the trainer”
Mat Gover BS, CSCS and Pam Gover CPT are Orem fitness boot camp instructors, personal trainers, and real world fat loss experts. They also own EXL Fitness & Performance, a personal and group training studio. To book Mat to speak at your Utah Valley company, club, or organization please contact him by email at matthetrainer@me.com or by phone at (801) 836.7185. For a free two-week trial to boot camp and experience the best personal training in Utah Valley please call Mat or drop by the gym (1623 N State St, Orem right next to Costa Vida).
One of the most common questions I get asked is, “What do you eat, Mat?” I get asked this as if the answer should take 1 minute to answer. This typifies America’s attitude towards food. My mother-in-law has a saying up in her kitchen that describes it best, “If we are what we eat then I’m either fast, cheap or easy.” Nutrition needs to be a priority in our lives, and I’ve said this before, it can’t be an after thought. Grabbing a bagel or yogurt on the way out the door in the morning or lunch through a fast food drive thru shows little effort to actively participate in your health and longevity, not to mention your physique. So, what do I eat? Without going into my 4 month course where I teach the Precision Nutrition principles, I’ll answer that question one tip and a time. Within these tips I will also share some of my favorite recipes. Most of these tips are written by 
