Diet Information Weight Loss

Holiday Weight Loss Tips

December 8, 2009
By Matt William Wayne

You can maintain or even lose weight during the holidays by following these tips:

1. Stay physically active since you know you will be consuming more calories.
2. Focus on will power and pick healthier choices.
3. Eat a light snack before going to a party.
4. Make a plan of action.
5. Reduce the fat in holiday recipes.
6. Choose your beverages wisely.
7. Enjoy the time with friends and family.

How are you going to handle and plan all of the eating that goes along with the holidays with family and friends? Most holidays and events are planned around food. It is such a big part of the holidays, celebrations, and family gatherings. Don’t allow yourself to let go over the holidays, it is too much work when it’s all done. Consider the following tips to make your holiday eating healthy and to feel good by planning and having a little self control. You can still enjoy good food within moderation and feel great that you had the will power to say “No, thank you” to that second helping.

Tip 1: Stay physically active every day.
Even if you only have 20 minutes, this will speed up your metabolism for the day. Physical activity will relieve holiday stress, regulate appetite, and burn up extra calories from the extra holiday eating. Get the whole family involved by taking a walk or playing a game in the back yard.

Tip 2: Focus on weight maintenance during the holidays.
This is why staying active is so important. If you are eating a little more than usual, if you stay active, you will be able to maintain your current weight. This sounds so refreshing, much better than gaining 7 to 10 pounds that will take you months to lose!!

Tip 3: Eat a light snack before going to holiday parties
DO NOT arrive to a party hungry. You know you will overeat and this will set you up to forget all about self control. This makes it very difficult to resist the temptation of high fat/high calorie foods. If you eat a snack before you go, you will be able to sustain self control; just think about how many minutes you are saving on the treadmill! Try eating almonds or an apple, cottage cheese or a hard boiled egg. You will be so happy you did.

Tip 4: Make a plan of action
Think about: What foods will be available? What foods can you choose that will be better for your goals? What foods can you do without? What are your personal triggers to overeating and how can you minimize them? Remember – while some foods have more calories than others, you gain weight when you take in more calories than your body uses in a day. So, if you stay active and use self control, you will maintain.

Tip 5: Reduce the fat in holiday recipes
Use low fat and low calorie substitutes. Try using applesauce in place of oil in your favorite recipes; try plain yogurt or low fat sour cream.

Tip 6: Choose your beverages wisely
Alcohol is high in calories. Liquors, sweet wines and sweet mixed drinks contain 100-450 calories per glass. Limit your intake to 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks per occasion. And watch out for calories in pop, fruit punch, and eggnog. Water and diet cola are low calorie alternatives. Using Crystal Light in drinks and diet tonic water will save many calories.

Tip 8: Enjoy the time with friends and family
Food can be an important part of events, but it doesn’t have to be the focus. Concentrate on the pleasures of being with family and friends. The key is balance and moderation. Utilize the tips here and practice self control; this way you will really enjoy the holidays like never before!

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