How to Eat During the Holidays Without Sacrificing Your Favorite Foods or Your Waistline
Have you ever stood on a scale at the end of the holiday season and wondered how the extra pounds crept on? It’s no secret that a sugar cookie here, a slice of pie there, and a few glasses of eggnog in between can lead to a few pounds gained. When you’re surrounded by Christmas goodies, how can you resist? Luckily, there are a few ways you can protect your waistline this holiday season without completely cutting out your favorite treats. Be Choosy When you see a regular buffet of your favorite holiday treats, don’t immediately start scarfing down everything that looks remotely tasty and sweet. First, scope out the food — without a plate — so you won’t be tempted to start eating without really looking. Then, find the treats that are your absolute favorites and choose one or two of them to eat. You don’t have to give up sweets during the holidays; instead, eat with discretion. Don’t Go Hungry To ensure that you don’t overeat at a party or buy junk food that you don’t need when shopping, eat a healthy snack before going out. Before you head out to a
party, eat a snack chock-full of complex carbohydrates, proteins, and unsaturated fats. Apple slices with peanut butter work, as well as lean meats and cheeses. If you’re headed to the grocery store, eating a filling snack before you go will make you less likely to impulsively scoop up those sugary cookies and pastries in the bakery. Drink Responsibly (and Judiciously) If you drink alcohol, keep in mind that each drink will probably be somewhere between 150–225 calories. A glass of eggnog can have as many as 500 calories. Alcohol decreases your self-control when you’re eating, while also increasing your appetite. Make sure that if you’re drinking, you’re not doing so on an empty stomach. And to decrease the number of high-calorie drinks that you consume, drink a glass of water in between alcoholic beverages. The holidays are a minefield for any healthy diet. But with the right tools, you can ensure that by Jan. 2, your waistline won’t be worse for wear.
Let’s Talk About Pinhole Leaks AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND ONE IN YOUR HOME
A pinhole leak is a small hole caused by corrosion buildup in copper pipes. Since pinhole leaks occur on active water lines (which always have water in them), once a leak starts, it won’t stop. If you notice water spots on a wall or ceiling that don’t seem to change regardless of water usage, a pinhole leak is probably responsible. They usually start out small, but they won’t stop, so you should deal with them quickly. If you have exposed copper lines in your house, maybe in an unfinished basement or a drop ceiling, perform some visual inspections yourself. Look for droplets forming on the pipes and for any areas of the ceiling/subfloor that appear wet. Sometimes a pinhole can spray water in a very fine mist, making the leak difficult to find but leaving condensation on other surfaces. Finally, any greenish-blue spots on copper lines may be a sign that a pinhole leak is about to form. However, areas around copper fittings will often turn this color because of the oxidation of the solder and flux used to seal them. Don’t mind those greenish-blue spots — look for isolated spots that aren’t near any fittings. Pinhole leaks seldom occur one at a time. Where there’s one, there are usually a few more. Many times, sealing one leak will accelerate the formation of another leak later on. To keep you from experiencing this, we usually try to replace as much
pipe around the leak as possible. Sometimes, though, a new leak will show up somewhere else in the house. If you’ve experienced multiple pinhole leaks, it might be time to consider replacing
all the copper pipe in your home. While re-piping can be expensive, it’s usually cheaper in the long run than repairing leak after leak. If you’re considering this option, schedule a
consultation with us to learn your options for running new, improved water lines throughout your home.
That said, the best way to prevent pinhole leaks from happening in the future is to install a whole-house water filter, which can keep the chemicals and minerals that may cause pinhole leaks out of your water system completely. They aren’t cheap, but if it saves you from re-plumbing your entire house, you’ll still save money. If you’d like to know more about whole- house filters, give us a call.
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404.427.0302
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