We are all starting to say the same thing – where did the year go? It is holiday time already and along with all the shopping and parties comes the tempting displays of holiday foods. It is fun to think about the special treats that you may have just once or twice a year. But do you have the treats just once or over and over again during the season?
It is hard to resist so many temptations, and I am no better at turning down delicious offerings than anyone else. I like to think that I have a few tried and true strategies up my sleeve that help mitigate some of the damage. What I would like to explore here are some of the strategies your club can use to help your members with their temptations.
Nobody likes a “spoilsport,” so I am not suggesting any club ignore the festivities, if that is what you usually do at holiday time. I would suggest that you try some restraint, even for short periods of time. It is also a good time to try some new nutrition initiatives.
For example, specify an area of the club to be a “Sugar-Free Zone.” Ask members to bring in recipes to share that are snacks or desserts that do not incorporate any refined sugar or artificial sweeteners. So, fruit desserts that aren’t sweetened are okay.
Another way to stimulate thinking about alternatives to treats is what I call “Rewards, But Not with Food!” Ask members to post ideas on a board of ways to reward themselves for exercising or any other positive behavior that use tangible or intangible reinforcement. Perhaps when someone has met their exercise quotient for the month, they might reward themselves with new music for their iPod. Or if they have lost a few pounds, they might be entitled to a manicure.
Finally, have your trainers or other staff create an “alternative” Holiday Menu using some of their own recipes that are low fat, low calorie and very delicious. In many cases, you can take a traditional recipe and with some skill “de-calorize” it. Have the menu and recipes on a handout available to all the members.
Helping members look at creative ways to reward appropriate behavior is a service your club can perform without costing you a cent. You can create an even greater feeling of camaraderie and sense of community among your members by having them share their strategies with each other. They will associate such positive feelings with your club environment and that is the kind of association that furthers retention.
Judith Samuels, M.A. is a certified nutrition and wellness consultant and master personal trainer at Sport&Health Clubs in the Washington D.C. Metro Area. She can be reached via e-mail at judi@judisamuels.com.
