Football season and weight

Okay: word of the day: (actually 2 words) GO GIANTS!

Now that is over with, you can see that your good doctor will not be reading medical journals tonight, but rather will be tuned into the first NFL game of the season, pitting the New York Giants vs. The Washington Redskins.

Okay, this is not a sports column, what is the connection to weight?

The answer is the eating and drinking behaviors of football fans during the season. Let's start out with those of you that attend games. Chances are very strong that you will find yourself in the parking lot 3 hours before kickoiff with a group of your friends and/or relatives having a feast of grilled meats, chips, beers, breads and sundry other high-caloric food items. The beer-drinking then extends into the ballpark with perhaps some ice cream or one of those really big pretzels. Concerning the people who watch at home, we again usually group with other people and provide all of the foods and snacks that accompany a football game. Once again, plentiful carbs and alcohol.

Separating the enjoyment of watching an intense football game from the high-caloric stress-eating foods associated with these gatherings is a very difficult thing. However, if you are in a weight -losing mode, this can basically ruin an entire week of otherwise smart eating behaviors.

I would suggest eating a well-balanced meal BEFORE the game and plan, and if you tailgate, to bring along some better food choices than nachos and beer. This gets back to my constant theme of PLANNING your meals and snacks and trying to avoid situations where all control is lost.

Oh...the Posner Prediction: Giants 24, Skins 7 (and if you are upset at me for this, and want to take it out on my car, I own that little mercedes sportscar in the parking lot with the license plate : SPDIET) Hmmmmm.....I better fess up on that one..that is Linda's car and she is an Eagles fan.