How to Prevent Holiday Weight Gain

The Holiday season, for most, is an exciting time of year full of celebrations. Unfortunately, most of the festivities include lots of traditional foods and seasonal treats, most of them rich in fat and calories. It is no wonder we put on weight at this time of year and start the new year on a diet.


How can we avoid the weight gain without feeling deprived and miserable? Though it may seem impossible to avoid all those rich and delicious foods, there are ways you can share in the fun without increasing your waistline.


The secret is ALL THINGS IN MODERATION. When you use this approach to all things during the holiday season, including what you eat and what activities you participate in, you can avoid the extra weight while still enjoying the festivities in a healthier fashion.


Try the following tips to avoid weight gain and extra stress:


+DRINK LOTS OF WATER. This will flush the toxins out of your body and help decrease your appetite.


+NEVER SKIP MEALS. If you are planning a large meal late in the day, make sure you eat your regular meals during the day. Otherwise, you will be ravenous and eat way too much food.


+STICK TO YOUR REGULAR ROUTINE. Try to get enough sleep and regular exercise. This will help keep your stress level under control. Too much stress can cause too much eating. If you do not have time for your usual fitness routine, adjust according to your schedule. Ten minutes of exercise is better than none!


+STASH HEALTHY SNACKS IN YOUR DESK. If your office is deluged with treats from co-workers during holiday time who want to share their goodies, practice restraint. If you eat a healthy breakfast and lunch you will not feel so hungry and you will be less likely to over indulge between meals. If you do decide to try some of those tasty treats, remember to do so in moderation. Never stuff yourself. You will only feel miserable and probably disgusted with yourself afterward.


+NEVER SAVE UP YOUR CALORIES. Do not ever starve yourself all day trying to save up your calories for an evening event. By the time the party starts, you will be famished and will eat everything in sight! If you are planning to attend a holiday festivity in the evening, make sure you eat your regular meals during the day, including a healthy snack right before the party. You will be less tempted to eat too much.


+EAT YOUR VEGGIES. If you are at a party where there are lots of hors d'oeuvres, check out the healthy food options before you start digging in. Your best options are raw vegetables, fruit, chicken, or whole grain crackers. After you have indulged yourself on the healthy snacks, you can then move on to the more yummy options. You will not be so tempted to overdo and you will not feel deprived.


In the same vein, if you are taking food to a holiday party, take something that is healthy. If you are hosting a party, make sure there are plenty of healthy low calorie snacks and water available for your guests.


+DO NOT STAY NEAR THE FOOD. Stay away from the kitchen and the buffet table as you may find yourself unconsciously stuffing food into your mouth. Holiday festivities are all about socializing with family and friends so spend your time doing that and you will be far less tempted to eat.


+DO NOT WASTE CALORIES ON ALCOHOL. An alcoholic drink can contain up to 250 calories per glass. This can easily add up to a full meal's worth of calories in a short time. If you must indulge, try limiting yourself to one drink. If that is not sufficient, try mixing your drinks with water or diet soda. This will cut those calories down considerably.


These suggestions should help you keep your weight gain down and reduce your stress level while still enjoying the season's festivities. Remember, the secret to having a successful experience at holiday time is to keep everything in moderation.
 
 

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