Holiday Weight Loss
Copyright 2005 Adam Waxler
Is it possible to avoid those holiday pounds?
We all know that maintaining your diet and weight loss plan
during the holidays can more than a little difficult. In fact,
maintaining your ideal weight during the holiday season can seem
almost impossible. Fortunately, if you believe the old stories
about how much weight people put on during the holidays, you're
only partially correct. In a recent study conducted by The
National Institute of Health, the researchers discovered that,
in reality, most people tend to put on just under one pound.
However, a person who is already overweight will average a whole
five pounds extra during the holiday season.
Unfortunately, the study also shows that people tend to keep
those holiday pounds on. In other words, over ten years, those
"not-so-much pounds", could lead someone to being overweight.
So, what can we do in order to keep those extra pounds off? How
do we lose weight put on during the holidays? After all, our
homes are usually filled with holiday pies, cakes and other
goodies, and they can be pretty tempting--even for the most
faithful of dieters!
Here's a few tips to get you through the holidays.
Just a Nibble!
Have you ever noticed that when you start eating a rich dessert
it tastes so good, but by the last bite, you've had enough? One
way to keep the pounds down is just to enjoy a few bites of that
delicious cheesecake or chocolate fudge brownie. No one says
that you have to completely deprive yourself of holiday
treats--just limit how much you eat!
Enjoy the Company, Not The Brownies!
Many people think of holiday parties in terms of the foods that
they'll get to eat (or have to avoid) instead of the real reason
for the celebration--the company and conversation. If you keep
yourself busy chatting with friends, you'll be less likely to
invade the snack table.
Go Full
You've likely heard the grocery store trick; don't go shopping
when you're hungry because you'll only end up buying more. Well,
the same can work for holiday parties! Eat a lot of raw
vegetables, and other healthy foods that will stick with you
during the party and you'll be less tempted to binge on the bad
stuff.
Drink Water
If you were to add up the calories that you've probably consumed
in sodas, fruit punches and alcoholic beverages at parties, you
would likely be amazed. You can gulp down hundreds of calories
without even realizing it if you're not careful! Instead of one
of these high-calorie drinks, make it a habit to drink
water--which in itself will help flush out extra water weight.
Create an Eating Schedule
It wouldn't be fun--or realistic--to try and get through an
entire party without at least sampling some of the treats. But
instead of heading instantly to the food table and loading your
plate--and then suffering the rest of the party because you want
more--try spacing out your snacks for the entire party. Plan on
taking a nibble of something about every thirty minutes. Not
only will it help you eat less, it will be a fun game that you
can play with yourself!
Most importantly, remember that the holidays are meant for
enjoyment. Don't be too hard on yourself, and if you make a
mistake, talk an extra long walk to work off those extra
calories instead of beating yourself up over it!