Keeping Away the Extra Holiday Pounds

I don’t know about you, but I'm already feeling the burned of unwelcomed extra calories that come along with the holiday season. We get together with family and friends to celebrate, and what do we do? We eat! With so many goodies close at hand, it’s easy to throw your diet way off track and pack on extra holiday pounds. If you’re looking to keep your holidays on the slimmer side, here are a couple of helpful hints to think about during your celebrating!

-Save the majority of your calories for your main course! It’s so easy to go overboard with snacking when there are tons of hors d'oeuvres available. Focus on fruit and vegetable platters beforehand if your body tells you it’s time to indulge, but saving the majority of your calories for the actual meal (and a sensible dessert afterwards) will help you feel better and keep the calories at bay.

-“Don't let today’s mistakes be tomorrow’s excuses!” That’s my absolute favorite quote! Simply plan on having a splurge day for your holiday event or party: this will eliminate a lot of the guilt you may feel while “over indulging.” Just eat a normal, healthy breakfast and lunch beforehand, and then get right back on track the next day. If you limit your splurging to just your holiday events you should be able to stay on track.

-If you’re the one doing the holiday hosting (and cooking), make sure to cut corners wherever your recipes permit. Use low or non-fat substitutions. Healthy fats in the place of butter or sweeteners in the place of sugar. No one else will know, but you'll feel better for it! Also, it may sound crazy, but why not add a couple of dishes into the mix that you DON'T like! If you're not a fan of creamed onions or scalloped potatoes, now would be the perfect time to add them into the mix (as long as others do like them). You won't be tempted to over eat and you can always send leftovers home with your guests!

-If you're going to indulge, watch your drinking habits. It’s very easy to accidentally drink all of your calories away. If you want to keep your holiday lighter, skip out on a couple of the alcoholic beverages and seasonal treats (such as eggnog) when you know you're going to be eating a calorie dense meal, as well. Stick with your coffee, tea, and water instead.