Dealing With Holiday Weight Gain Woes

Dealing With Holiday Weight Gain Woes

By P.Mehta, RD/ www.Healthfulfilling.com

Are you looking forward to the holidays, but not the weight gain? Worrying
about impending pounds as we start the holiday season is a common fret.
Sometimes the worrying gets in the way of enjoying the holidays as well,
especially because upcoming New Year resolutions include losing weight
and getting healthier.

Gaining weight doesn't always have to happen during the holidays. There
are ways to manage weight effectively, especially if a strategy is in place.
Here are some simple ways to help keep the weight number in control this
holiday season.

1. Eat a small, healthy snack like fruit, nuts, or half a sandwich before a
holiday party so you are not starving when you get there.

2. If the holiday party will be having appetizers and dinner, take it easy with
the appetizers, and eat smaller portions during the dinner.

3. Focus more on healthier party appetizers like fruits, veggies, low fat
dips, bean dips, baked crackers, nuts. If you want and crave other rich and
higher calorie items, have them in smaller portions, but after you've had the
healthier, lower calorie things first.

4. Don't deprive yourself of foods you love, it most likely will find its way to
you in larger portions sooner or later.

5. Keep count of how many plates of appetizers you have had. Usually no
more than two small plates is a good number to stick with.

6. Try to keep the alcohol minimal, taking only a few sips at a time can
make a drink last longer, (as silly as it may sound). Alcohol is caloric, wine
is about 125 calories for a 5 ounce glass, and beer is 150 calories for a 12
ounce bottle or can. Or consider staying alcohol free and calorie free and
be the designated driver.

7. When socializing, stay aware of how much you're eating. Sometimes
good conversation and laughs can mean eating without noticing how
much you have eaten.

8.   Eat next to someone you just met, this way you might eat less since you
are getting to know that person.

9.   Socialize with someone who completed eating which can give you
the incentive to finish eating so you can speak freely since
neither of you are busy eating.

10. Eat slowly, savor each bite! Wait at least 20 minutes before eating
more since it takes about that much time before your brain realizes
fullness.

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Updated 12/2010