December Issue # 013 - How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Avoid Weight Gain During the Holidays With These Helpful Tips.


The year's end is upon us and the last three months of the calendar can be totally brutal when it comes to weight gain. It's a time when extra calories can creep up on you so easily.

We are surrounded by events and celebrations that include vast amounts of delicious foods and beverages that are loaded with calories.

Events such as Halloween, Oktoberfest, a neighborhood get together and the yearly office Christmas party can get the calorie ball rolling.

Then pile on Thanksgiving, Christmas/Hanukkah and of course the all mighty New Years Eve, where many of us may over indulge thinking all will be well because we will make those New Year's resolutions (that we may or may not keep).

And for those of us that have a sweet tooth (myself included), it's hard to avoid all those holiday treats that lurk around every corner because no matter where you go they are at arm's length.

Things such as frosted cookies, freshly baked pies, boxes of chocolates, specialty coffees and eggnog are just the tip of the iceberg.

So how can we take part in all these wonderful events without gaining extra calories?

Helpful Tips:

This point for me is key. The amount that we eat is so very important.

Visiting France really opened my eyes about portion control.

The obesity rate is still reasonably low in France, which is amazing since most of their meals include wine, fresh bread, creamy butter, the main course and all of this is followed by dessert.

The secret is small portions and no snacking between meals.

2. Eat Slower and Chew, Chew, Chew Your Food:

Chewing your food well helps improve digestion, makes meal times longer and fills you up faster.

3. Drink More Water:

Drinking a glass of water before a meal makes you feel full, which helps limit our food intake during meal times.

Water also helps prepare the body for the digestive process.

It also hydrates us, helps carry nutrients and detoxifies the body.

It also increases our metabolic rate and has zero calories, making this beverage extremely weight loss friendly.

4. Green Tea:

Green tea also fills you up just as herbal teas and water, but green tea offers a little something extra.

It can provide a boost of energy and can help curb one's appetite till meal time.

It also helps increase metabolism for weight loss, burn fat, suppress food cravings and helps detox the body which all help in the battle of the bulge.

5. Avoid Going to a Party on an Empty Stomach:

If possible, try having a healthy snack before going to an event which is loaded with high calorie foods and sweets.

This way you can maintain smaller portion sizes of the decadent foods much more easily when there.

Also filling up with a zero calorie beverage such as water or herbal tea can be your best friend when it comes to controlling ones appetite.

6. Be More Active:

If we can just get more active we can burn off some of those calories that we savored at the dinner table.

Make it fun. Get the whole family to partake in an activity that suits your family best.

Perhaps a family walk to check out the holiday lights and decorations in the neighborhood.

Or perhaps the whole gang could go skating, sledding, dancing or bowling.

Whatever the adventure, it's a great way to get off the couch, burn off some calories and help stay healthy and fit.

7. Don't Let Food and Drink, Be The Main Focus:

This is the time of year to spend some quality time with co-workers, friends and family.

And though food and drink shared is certainly very important the holidays are really about so much more.

Great conversation, laughter, peace, love, joy, friendship and good will towards man.

8. Limit High Calorie Drinks:

Examples can include a variety of drinks such as eggnog, hot toddies, specialty coffees, hot chocolate topped with whip cream, spiced rum, Bloody Caesars and so on.

If you do enjoy alcohol, moderation is key.
Drinking too much can help increase your appetite and over eating becomes easier.

9. Try not to nibble constantly:

If the event has the food in a buffet style there are a few tips that can help limit the calories you eat.

Select a small plate if possible and avoid layering food on the plate.

Go easy with dressings, sauces and dips as they can contain mucho calories too.

As mentioned above chew, chew, chew your food well.

It makes you feel fuller and helps facilitate digestion.

It is almost impossible to keep track of calories at these functions, and honestly, who would want to, so again portion control is key.

10. Pick your Sweets Wisely:

Select small portions of the desserts that you love the most and leave the rest.

11. Don't Focus on Losing Weight:

For those of you who have amazing will power during the holiday season this rule does not apply to you.

But for the rest of us the holiday season can be challenging.

Try to focus on maintaining your present weight.

This means the goal is not to lose weight, but rather just maintain the weight we're at.

This can be a victory in itself.

Most of us are already familiar with the tips listed above, but it's a good time of year for a little reminder to help keep us on the right path.

Wishing you and yours health and happiness now and always.

Happy Holidays Everyone.

Until next time

See you in the New Year.

Catherine :)

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