Could the Big Game Party Cause A Fumble In Your Weight Loss Plans?

ATLANTA, Jan. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — With 72 percent of Americans wanting to lose weight, what can we do once faced with this Sunday’s typical 2,400 calorie Big Game party menu?

With 72 percent of Americans wanting to lose weight, what can we do once faced with this Sunday’s typical 2,400 calorie Big Game party menu? More at CalorieControl.org.

A November 2016 survey conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of the Calorie Control Council among over 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18+ found that 72 percent of Americans want to lose weight. Of those, 43 percent have been trying to lose the weight for over a year. So how do calorie fests like the Big Game and other events factor into our inability to lose weight? Sunday, February 4^th will be the second biggest food day (Thanksgiving is #1) for Americans according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A relatively modest consumption of foods and beverages in a game day menu – pizza, chicken wings, potato chips, beef nachos and beer or sodas – adds up to more than 2,400 calories and 121 grams of fat according to the USDA National Nutrient Database. That’s more than many should eat in a single day.

Not only could dieters derail newly-minted healthy habits from this year’s resolutions on Sunday, but they could leave their party heavier. While one day isn’t enough to totally destroy a diet, it is helpful to understand how the Big Game might make our resolutions to lose weight just a little harder to stick with. Sylvia P. Poulos, Ph.D. and registered dietitian with the Calorie Control Council, recommends the following tips to stop the Big Game from turning into the Big Gorge:

Acknowledge that while there is a lot of food, you don’t have to try all of it.
Volunteer to bring low-calorie dishes and diet soda instead of the full calorie options.
Hit the veggie tray first and fill up on those before considering the other offerings.
Minimize your mindless munching. Limit your eating while watching the game and make it your goal to chat with each person at the party.
Hopefully you’re getting some exercise during the week, but be sure to work out on game day and the next day to mitigate the party damage. (A walk counts as physical activity!)

The Calorie Control Council, established in 1966, is an international association representing the low- and reduced-calorie food and beverage industry. Council staff includes experts certified in public health, food and nutrition. The Council’s Healthy Weight Tool Kit includes calculators for healthy weight, exercise, and calorie counts.