Want to Avoid Weight Gain During the Winter Holidays?

A great place to start is never leave hungry to go shopping, attend a party, or visit with friends and family. A quick protein snack can make it much easier to ignore distractions that can lead to unplanned eating. Planning your holiday fun can help you keep up with a healthy diet and focus on your long-term goal of losing weight with all that is going during the winter holidays. It also is important to remember that a couple of holidays doesn't have to mean weeks of over indulgence. Moreover, it is never a good idea to save up your calories, so you can eat whatever you want at the party or holiday dinner. You risk of overeating is less if you keep your hunger in check or even eat a healthy snack before heading out the door. So, never rely on your stomach to make smarter choices.

• HOLIDAY EXERCISE - If you know that you are going to overeat, there are things you can do to limit the negative impact of eating behaviors. For example, if you exercise routinely, the keep your normal workout routine throughout the holidays. If you don't train regularly, try to be more active every day that you choose to overeat.
• BE FUSSY BUT EAT - If you choose your indulgences wisely, you want waste calories on foods that you can have throughout the year. So, avoid everyday temptations and allow yourself a seasonal treat but only when the mood strikes.
• LEARN HOW TO USE WILLPOWER - You can enjoy the winter holidays and eat well by enjoying the tempting seasonal foods you choose to eat in moderation. Indulging a little on a holiday won't hurt but don't ignore your food strategies for weeks at a time. Moreover, look for places where you can make healthier substitutions whether it is in the ingredients or the overall dish.
• PORTION FOOD SIZES - Plating recommendations do not change just because of the holidays. Half the plate should be filled with fruits and veggies; a quarter of your plate filled with protein; and a quarter of the holiday plate filled with carbohydrates or starches.
• CONCENTRATE ON YOUR MEAL - Although you may not be able to control what food you're served, no food should be on your naughty list. You are bound to see others eating, so choose dishes you really love and can't get any other time of year. Eat in moderation to avoid guilt while satisfying your food craving.
• DRINK MORE WATER - People often mistake thirst for hunger, so during the Holidays, reach for a glass water anytime you feel hungry as well as before you sit down to a meal. It also helps to continue drinking water (you can add a lemon or lime slice) as you eat to add volume to your meal.
• INTERMITTENT FASTING WORKS FOR THE HOLIDAYS - Learning "how to fast" will give you the option of applying it as a standalone strategy for managing seasonal disruptions or combining it with other interventions to keep your weight loss program on track throughout the holidays.

Keep in mind that you are in the middle of a transformational weight loss journey that is visible to those who know you best, so comments about you and your weight are likely to occur. However, being honest with yourself is the way to stay on track during the winter holiday season. It is never easy to watch your weight with all the parties, dinners and gatherings during the winter holiday season. However, studies suggest that once you survive the six-week stretch without gaining weight, your chance for post-holiday weight loss greatly improves. The less you rely on willpower over the winter holidays, the better. So create thoughtful strategies for managing food consumption at parties, dinners and other events, the more empowered you feel in making good food choices.

A strategic eating plan for the winter holidays helps to ensure you eat healthy and the holiday foods you consume are nourishing, hydrating and satiating. For tempting holiday treats, visit our vast collection of weight-friendly recipes at Metabolic Research Center online.