Surviving The Holiday Eating Season
By Linda Tremer

You can survive the holiday season without putting on pounds. Rather than trying to lose weight over the holiday season, it might make more sense to set your goal to not gain any weight over this holiday party season. This is achievable with a little effort and planning.

The party scene is full of tempting food and drink. There are ways to have a good time without overeating. Here are a few tips to keep your weight in line over the up coming holidays.

First of all don’t drink alcohol or sodas. Ask for water. Add a twist of lemon or lime. If you must have an alcoholic drink (which is loaded with calories) have water as your first drink. Sip it and make it last. Dilute the alcoholic drink as much as possible. Do not use high calorie mixers. Stick with water, soda water and diluted fruit juice mixers. Alternate a glass of water with a glass of alcohol. That is after every alcoholic drink or soda drink a full glass of water.

At the buffet fill your plate with vegetables and salads. Don’t add calorie laden dressings. Fill you plate only half full. We tend to eat whatever is on our plate whether we want it or not. Don’t put it on your plate to begin with. Take as long as possible before the first bite. Then savor each bite. Don’t go back for seconds.

Sit or stand well away from the nibble foods. If you are seated near food, move it away from you. Make sure you have to reach for food and snacks. The harder it is to get to, the less likely you are to eat it. When snacking, choose the healthy snacks, you know what they are. Avoid salty foods which will make you want to eat more and drink more.

Take an outside break. Go outside with the smokers and away from the food temptations. Don’t take your drink with you. Look at the night sky, breath the fresh air. Invite others to go on an outside fresh air break with you.

Make the party about people and not food. Enjoy the conversation. Walk around and chat with people. Concentrate on the conversation and body language. Look at what people are wearing. Try to guess what they are feeling. Make a game of it. This will help keep your mind off the food. Talk to someone you wouldn’t normally talk to.

If you are planning on attending only a few parties, the good news is you can afford to cheat a little bit. However, if you plan on attending numerous parties you will need an action plan.

Cut back on some calories during the non party days. This will allow you a little more leeway at the party. Eat healthy meals every chance you get. Then redouble your efforts to lose weight after the holidays.

Some of you can have a small taste of that scrumptious looking desert. For others a taste will lead to more and more eating. Know yourself. Know what foods you can safely taste and what foods you must leave alone. Then of course leave those foods alone.

Try to eat a little bit at home before you leave for a party. Soup can stave off the hunger pangs and keep your appetite from overwhelming you.

Don’t forget you exercise routine over the holiday season. Plan shopping, parties and get togethers so you can make time for exercising. Keep up your exercise routine as much as possible. When shopping, take the stairs and not the escalator. If time permits increase your exercise over the holiday season. Increasing your exercise routine even slightly during the holiday period will allow you to eat some of that fabulous holiday food without feeling guilty.

Over the holiday period, you might have to be satisfied with the status quo. That is not losing weight but more importantly not gaining any.

Be aware that it is possible to keep from gaining weight during the holiday season. Staying at the same weight over the stressful holiday season is possible. Always remember that it’s much easier to keep the weight off than it is to lose it later. Be selective in your food and drink choices. Don’t skip your exercise, increase it if you can. And the holiday season will not result in a weight gain for you. You can enjoy the holiday parties, fabulous food and drink and still control your weight.

Happy Holidays!

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