Smart Holiday Diet Tips

If you're like most people, you're likely to gain at least one pound during the holiday season. It may not be much but adding one pound to an already heavy frame is just one pound too many. It's hard to resist the holidays, though. It's the season when you see people you haven't seen the whole year, and the holidays provide perfect opportunities for indulgence. Good food, good wine and good cheer is lethal to one's diet plan. And it's not easy to resist, what with your relatives chiding you for not being a good sport. However, with a little advance planning, you can still survive the holidays without adding inches to your waist.

Choose an outfit that fits snugly. When you wear snug fitting clothes, chances are you'll be more focused on holding your stomach in. Keep one hand busy with a drink so it won't be easy to grab food. Avoid skipping meals, and eat your meals consistently even when you're all set to a night of partying. This will prevent you from overeating later on. At the party, see what the buffet table has to offer first. Spend at least 30 minutes sipping sparkling water and picking out food choices mentally. If you really don't want to eat anything at the party, you can always chew sugarless gum.

Skip the appetizers. If you can't forego the appetizers, stick to veggies, fruits or a handful of nuts. Be a food snob. If you don't like the food, don't eat it. It's ok if you just eat the foods you truly want to eat. It's not your responsibility to sample all the foods in the buffet table. You can easily save calories by going easy on the cheeses, dressings, sauces, nuts and whipped cream. One trick when it comes to drinks is to alternate alcoholic beverages with plain water. This way you can cut your alcohol consumption by half. Eat slowly, savor your food and engage in witty conversation, because it actually takes 20 minutes for the brain to realize that you're full.

Take the time to exercise during the holidays. The holiday season is extremely busy. It will be tricky to spare the time but it will be a big boost to your weight maintenance efforts. You have to make daily exercise a priority during the season. If you forgot about your diet at one party, you can at least minimize the damage with exercise. If you can, try to add 15 minutes to your 30 minute regular treadmill session.

Managing your weight during the holidays may seem like an uphill climb, and it's going to be hard to resist all the delectable treats that you know are waiting for you. However, with a little planning and discipline, you can survive unscathed. These little tips will help you avoid the extra pounds and will make you enjoy the holidays without stressing out.