How To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
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Office parties, holiday open houses, happy hours ... Many of us receive numerous invitations this time of year that call for celebration with lots of savories and treats. It is important to stick to your willpower to bypass the festive hors d'oeuvres and decadent desserts so you can avoid weight gain over the holidays.
It is not uncommon have three holiday parties between Friday and Sunday on the weekends. You should develop and stick to a game plan to avoid gaining excessive weight during this time. It is easy to fall into this temptation trap with cookies, pies, cakes and hors d'oeuvres calling your name.
The trouble with holiday weight gain is that most do not take off those extra pounds after the holiday and they accumulate year after year. In fact, the National Institutes of Health say that holiday weight gain plays a significant role in the adult obesity epidemic.
Mayo Clinic nutritionists, Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D. agree stating, “It's commonly thought that the typical holiday weight gain is around 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms). In reality, it's probably less. The catch, though, is that even a small holiday weight gain is seldom lost — adding to the cumulative weight gain that happens over time for most adults.”
This time of year, I try to give my clients incentives for sticking to their workouts and their weight loss routine. Try this with a group of friends to keep each other on track and maybe have a holiday weight loss contest, so you will be encouraged to exercise regularly.
In order to manage your holiday weight gain, it is important to plan ahead before you trot about town to your various affairs. I think it is important to have something enjoyable and nutritious at home. This way you will not be so ravenous when you get there.
If savory is your preferred palate try eating some veggies and salsa. If you think you won’t be able to pass up on the sweets, go for a smoothie made with your favorite fruit.
The Cleveland Clinic agrees, underscoring the importance of not skimping on your fresh fruits and veggies this time of year.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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November 22, 2011 - 4:28pmThis Comment
I think proper exercise and eating nutritious food can help to stay fit during the holidays.
November 23, 2011 - 6:03am[Link removed by EmpowHER moderator]