It’s that time of the year again – the holiday season.  Perhaps nothing is more challenging than getting through from Rosh Hashanah to Simchas Torah with your health and weight intact.  As daunting and challenging as this may seem, a few little tricks and bit of self-discipline can get you through virtually unscathed. 

There are essentially three areas where we all tend to get into trouble. One – the amounts of food we consume sitting at our tables for our festive meals, two – the types of food we eat, and three – the general lack of activity and exercise during the Chagim. 

Let’s first look at the portion control issue.  There is a mitzvah to eat certain foods during the Chagim.  There is no mitzvah however, to consume mass quantities of anything.  In order to keep a handle on the over-eating problem, try this.  Take a reasonable portion on your plate, and if you are truly still hungry after you eat what’s on your plate, take seconds from a cooked or raw vegetable or whole grain dish.  Remember that drinking water may also make you feel full.  So, drink up before you start your meal.   

As far as the second item – the kinds of food we eat… Everyone can make some subtle adjustments in this area as well.  Even though meat and chicken dishes are more popular at this time of year, you can trim the fat from your meat and order lean cuts to begin with.  Skin the chicken and turkey, preferably before cooking, and keep in mind that the white meat is much less fatty than the dark. Also, keep the emphasis on vegetable and grain dishes.  For dessert, go for fresh fruit salads, melons, and sorbets instead of cake and cookies that are laden with sugar and fat.  Keep in mind that most pareve ice creams use chemicals and high-fat based whips. 

Item number three  –  lack of activity.  No, don’t go out and do an exercise session during on yom tov!  But, don’t sit around either.  Nice long, brisk walks, particularly after your meals, are a great idea.  There is nothing worse than throwing yourself into metabolic rigor mortis by falling asleep immediately after a meal.  When you are done with the walk, stretch a little and then you can take your nap.   

The Chagim are a time to be especially joyful and happy, and to celebrate together with our families. We need not create more stress in our lives than we already have.  So, instead of saying “After the holidays”, resolve to get started with good and healthful habits right now.  Watching your serving sizes, eating healthful choices and staying as active as possible over the Chagim are all ways to “add hours to your day, days to your year and years to your life.”   

As this will be my last column until after Succos, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for your loyal readership, and to wish you a G’mar Chasima Tova…. a year filled with bracha, hatzlacha and the good health to enjoy it! 

Alan Freishtat is an A.C.E. CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER and a LIFESTYLE FITNESS COACH with over 14 years of professional experience. He is the co-director of the Jerusalem-based weight loss and stress reduction center Lose It! along with Linda Holtz M.Sc. and is available for private consultations, assessments and personalized workout programs. Alan also lectures and gives seminars and workshops. He can be reached at 02-651-8502 or 050-555-7175, or by email at [email protected]  Check out the Lose It! web site – www.loseit.co.il