Don't Wait Until Next Year to Implement Weight Management Plan

During the holidays, many people make drastic statements about their plans for losing weight... next year. However, many dietitians say pump the brakes and take small steps instead. In fact, taking small steps during the holidays will likely put you on the fast track for successful weight loss. Somewhere between the turkey, the cranberry sauce, the cornbread stuffing, the gravy and biscuits, and of course the holiday cake or pie, you are apt to double or triple your daily intake of calories during a typical holiday gathering. Just because it is the holidays, don't give yourself a license to overeat. Nonetheless, eating less can leave you feeling deprived, so plan on managing portions of food everywhere you go. Participants in a study at Texas Tech University only gained a little over a pound between Thanksgiving and New Year's.

• AVOID LIQUID CALORIES - Holiday parties may be the only time of year that you can truly loosen up with co-workers over a festive holiday brew. While it is true that alcohol makes you drowsy, it also diminishes the quality of your sleep and can make an existing sleep disorder worse. Moreover, holiday drinks are often filled with hidden calories, so drink wisely.
• EAT WATER-RICH FOODS - Instead of trying to drink the recommended amount of water right before you walk out the door, opt for a water-rich fresh salad as a starter to boost your hydration. Water helps your digestive system move food through faster.
• ADD HOLIDAY EXERCISES - By optimizing your diet and holiday exercise regimen, you can lose weight regardless of the seasonal influences. Although this will not be pure fat loss, it may be the kick start you need to follow a sustainable diet throughout the holidays rather than relying on post-holiday crash dieting.
• BE PICKY BUT EAT - During the holidays, you should eat mostly whole, single-ingredient foods while avoiding foods that are highly processed. If you base your non-celebratory meals during the week on consuming lean protein and low-carb vegetables, a taste of holiday treats won't endanger your dietary plans.
• ENJOY FRIENDS AND FAMILY - After a meal, keep moving and add a little physical activity to your day. It is a perfect time to take a walk and catch up with a friend or family member. If there's kids around, channel their holiday energy into a game of tag.
• GET PLENTY OF SLEEP - The holidays bring stress and anxiety along with all the joy and excitement. Nonetheless, it is important to put your holiday anxieties to rest at least a couple of hours before bedtime. Also, alcohol may seem like it helps you to fall asleep but it is a depressant. So, once your body metabolizes it during your sleep cycle, it can wake you up and keep you awake.

Since restricting every tempting bite during the winter holiday season is not a sustainable weight loss strategy, consider a smarter approach that doesn't involve throwing in the towel. Put your goals for weight loss on hold and be happy with successful weight control over the holidays. Nonetheless, the less you rely on willpower over the winter holidays, the better. Moreover, creating good strategies for managing food consumption at parties, dinners and other events, the more empowered you feel in making good food choices. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's are only three days out of the six-week winter holiday season. One day of overindulgence will not ruin someone's long-term diabetes control. Nonetheless, six weeks off your meal plan will make restoring weight control much more difficult.

Metabolic Research Center has thirty years of experience in helping clients create eating plans that empower them to make smarter choices while keeping their eye on the prize. Contact a center near you to schedule a free weight loss consultation for managing your winter holidays.