How to Avoid Gaining Weight during the Holidays

Managing your weight is a challenge at the best of times, but with all the parties and family festivities, it’s so easy to just give in and say, you will get back on track in the New Year. Avoiding weight gain during the holidays requires a great deal of discipline and willpower. According to a recent Weight Watchers study, the average American gains around 7-10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, and the majority will never lose that extra weight!

If you do not want to gain weight you need to remain in control of yourself.  You have to make a plan for every single contingency and lay down the rules for yourselves!

Or are you already feeling resigned to the fact that you will probably lose the Battle of the Bulge? There seems to be no escape from food intake.  Everywhere you look, tempting you to totally give up all restraint… “What the heck… it’s the holidays… I’m going to enjoy myself… I’ll start my diet in the New Year… “

If you are serious about your health, do not put your head in the sand and pretend it will all go away, because it won’t! The secret is: if you don’t want to gain weight, you have to remain in control. You have to make a plan for every single contingency! You have to lay down the rules!

Avoiding weight gain at work: If you are working in an office, you will need to be prepared for the deluge of guilty treats your colleagues will graciously want to share. Plan ahead and keep your own healthy snacks in your desk, so that you will not be tempted, and get into the habit of politely declining, for whatever reason you can come up with.

Avoiding weight gain at home: If you’re in charge of the kitchen and take care of cooking at home, you’re totally in charge of the rules. Just imagine, you could actually prepare healthy dishes to replace the usual fattening ones. You might be surprised by how many healthy substitutes there are to your favorite dishes.

Avoiding weight gain at family gatherings: This is a tough one, but plan on not trying to please everyone by eating their food! You do have the right to say no, if you do not need. At the very least, keep your portions small.

Avoid these foods at all costs: Way too many calories or way too high in fat are: any type of holiday candy; eggnog; cheesecake; pie with whipped cream or ice cream; stuffing.

Other not-so-secret tips for avoiding weight gain: Don’t deliberately starve yourself all day to “make room for later.” Also, don’t start drinking alcohol before eating.

Moderation is the key, but remember, you have to think things through beforehand and plan!