Holiday celebrations are filled with food temptations that even the most committed dieter or fitness fanatic can find difficult to avoid. In fact, the Mayo Clinic estimates that adults gain an average of two pounds in the short stretch between Thanksgiving and New Year's, largely due to the ready availability of high-calorie holiday staples such as cookies, cakes, and stuffing.
At first glance, two pounds doesn't sound like much; but it may actually represent weeks or even months of hard work and progress in your overall weight loss plan. Are you willing to endure this kind of setback just for the sake of a second helping of dessert at Christmas dinner? If the answer is no, then follow these quick and easy tips to avoid packing on unwanted pounds:
- Don't skip meals or healthy snacks during the day in order to "save" calories for later indulgences at a party or event. This practice just causes you to arrive hungry, which paves the way for overeating.
- Try to maintain nutritional balance in your meals by ensuring that you consume plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins along with the more calorie-rich carb-based fare typically found at holiday parties.
- Avoid downing liquid calorie bombs like hot buttered rum, hot chocolate loaded with whipped cream, and, of course, eggnog. Instead, limit yourself to a few sips of your favorite festive beverage before switching to water, black coffee, or unsweetened tea.
- Remind yourself that it's perfectly okay to say no to that extra slice of pumpkin pie, second scoop of mashed potatoes with gravy, or take-home tray of leftover goodies that fellow revelers might try to push on you. Portion control is critical at this time of year.
- No matter what happens in the kitchen or at the table, be sure to keep up with your exercise regimen throughout the holidays to help offset your increased caloric intake. That means getting right back on your Precor treadmill or Diamondback elliptical for a serious sweat session at your regularly scheduled time.
These are the ideas our staff came up with; now we'd like to know what works for you! What's your favorite tip for avoiding holiday weight gain? Share your secrets with other readers in the Comments section.