Sweater Weather
At least they hide all those holiday calories
We are in the gap weeks between two of our biggest eating holidays. All I can say is that I am thankful that this is also sweater weather. Know what I mean? The time of year when the air is cold enough that big bulky sweaters and hoodies are acceptable fashion. Just so happens that they also conceal that third slice of pumpkin cheesecake.
Can you imagine if Thanksgiving and Christmas were in the middle of summer? How would I hide the fact that my belt slid out another notch or two?
If you track your weight like I do, you can actually see the effects of “just a little more gravy on those potatoes”. The numbers don’t lie and when your weight chart climbs faster than your credit card balance this time of year, then you really lean into that “layered look”.
It’s all about those calories hiding in your food. Don’t underestimate how sneaky those little buggers can be. They hide in all these unsuspecting places, tiny places, then they explode into inches of waistline once they get inside of you. It’s like that spray foam stuff that expands up to 300 times its original size.
Let me give you an example, peanuts. A couple of handfuls as you sit around the table waiting for grandma’s ham to be done seems innocent enough. And the calories know that. They pack themselves into nuts, hiding so you don’t see them, just waiting to get inside of you. Then, woof, they become over 800 calories per cup! And don’t wash them down with a shot of holiday cheer! That cup of eggnog is hiding another 300 calories … add in some rum and it jumps to 530! You’ve just consumed a half day's worth of calories and you haven’t even sat down for a meal yet.
And let me tell you, once they get inside you they don’t want to leave. I used to think a quick walk between dinner and dessert would shake a few calories loose. Not a chance. I’d have to walk about five hours to burn off just those peanuts!!
No wonder Santa wears that big, oversized red coat. Two chocolate chip cookies and a cup of milk hides around 450 calories. Just think if he does that at every single house. I mean, those poor reindeer, eh?
Don’t get me wrong, I ate the pumpkin cheesecake and I have never been known to pass up the Christmas cookies. The key is to have a plan. From January to April gives me about 120 days before I have to stop wearing sweaters up here in the north. I just need to take a Forrest Gump style walk and I’ll be all set by the time shorts weather rolls around.