one day late.

A friend of mine sent me this totally anti-healthy/anti-watch-what-you-eat-for-the-holidays email. I'm going to post it here because I got it on Move it Monday and I thought it was very inappropriate. (lol) or appropriate...which ever way you want to look at it.

This time of year is a really tough time to start on a new healthy eating program. If you're already on one it's tough to just stay on it. For all of you trying to stick to your guns right now I hope the following email makes you laugh...just don't give in to the ideas! :) And to everyone who wants to get started...I won't make you get healthy at the hardest time of the year. I will say to make sure and check back at the beginning of the year, though. We're going to get some motivation going with prizes. (So make sure to tell me what would motivate you to get your booty shakin' in the comments and I'll see what I can do to make it a great prize in January.)

And...I am posting this funny look at NOT staying healthy but make sure to read to the end to see how you can avoid packing on the pounds over the next couple of weeks.

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost.. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

And now...Here are some ways to keep those pounds at bay during the holidays...if you're interested!!

-Take a walk with family members.

-Organize a tour of the neighborhood lights.

-Go to a fitness gym with a friend.

-Organize a family outing like skiing, skating, ice skating, horseback riding, etc.

-Eat only one of those cookies or chocolates and then walk away from the plate.  Just walk away.  Nothing to see here.

-Have only one helping of Christmas dinner.

-Eat whatever you want just have a very SMALL piece of it all...(okay, not sure that that one works exactly but if you were going to eat some of everything in large quantities then having a very small amount of it WOULD be more healthy the then possibility, right?)

Have fun!!!

good. LIFE.