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Watching Holiday Weight

Tips to Keep the Holidays from Packing Pounds on Your Middle

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

Every year I end up putting on weight at Christmas, only to become absolutely panicked and desperate to get it off. I hate myself when this happens. I just can’t stop eating at parties and peoples’ houses – and then I end up mad at myself. What advice do you have that will help me stop gaining weight during the holidays?

Signed,

I Love Christmas Cookies

April Masini's advice:

Dear I Love Christmas Cookies,

Childhood memories of the holidays include the intoxicating smell of Christmas cookies in the kitchen, a succulent ham for dinner or someone carving a turkey and preparing gravy and oyster dressing. Or maybe your mother or grandmother fried up salty potato pancakes for Hanukah. Romantic sensory thoughts, right? Well, now that you’re an adult, those holiday food realities add up to killer weight gain – the pounds that sunk your size six! Don’t let all those wonderful food gifts and party buffets get you down. There IS a way to enjoy eating during the holidays without gaining weight. And I’d like to suggest you check out Think & Date Like A Man -- it’s stock full of tips on weight loss, weight maintenance, exercise and nutrition (to say nothing of the wardrobe tips, sex, and relationship advice).

Here are a few tips for watching holiday weight:

First, eat a bit of something early...Waiting for the holiday meal to be served can be a trying game of wit versus starvation. Eating something early will help prevent you snacking on too many hors d'oeuvres and from going overboard at mealtime.

When offered snack trays, reach for the veggie or fresh fruit platter first – just watch out for high-calorie dips usually.

Eat very low carb meals for a couple of days prior to the big holiday sit down where you will be eating high-carb, decadent foods.

Eat only what you want, not what someone puts on your plate. Don't put anything on your plate that you don't want to eat, and realize just because it's on your plate doesn't mean you have it eat it. This may take some re-programming of old childhood behavior if your parents enforced a version of “The Clean Plate Club”, but work through it.

Stop when you're full. Eat your food slowly and allow yourself time to digest before digging in for more. Be conscious of what you’re doing, and what you put into your mouth. Many of us eat unconsciously, doing what we've always done despite the fact that our metabolism and lifestyle has changed.

Don’t eat in front of the television, the newspaper, the computer, or any other “hypnotizer” that may keep you from being aware of how and what you’re eating.

Learn to say three slimming words, "No thank you." If you’re not sure if you want something or not – say no. You can always change your mind.

Keep up your exercise routine. If necessary, arrive a little late at your party or family event. Maintaining some form of exercise during the holidays will keep you healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally while also keeping the holiday pounds off.

Natural diuretics —nature’s helpers — tea and water. Water will flush your system of any junk that you've consumed, while also being a non-caloric alternative to sugar sweetened drinks like eggnog, soda, or hot rum toddies.

Limit alcoholic beverages and try to only consume them during a meal, never in between. Alcohol packs lots calories – especially when it’s part of a mixed drink cocktail. Alcohol also impairs your eating habits... to say nothing of your driving ability. If sparkling water is offered, choose it -- with a twist of lemon or lime, in a wine glass.

Don’t punish yourself. If you do give in to your cravings and have an extra slice of pie, or a few too many cookies, don’t beat yourself up about it. Tomorrow is a new day.
When the holidays are over, get rid of the junk! Give away extra food gifts, candy boxes, cookie plates to a shelter, to a senior home, or to a labor exchange. You can also bring these extras to your children’s school and put them in the teacher lounge, or give leftovers to neighbors who are single or widowers. Whatever you do – get it out of the house.

Stock up on water, fresh fruit, and veggies, so you have food in your house that’s healthy.

Bottom line: enjoy your holiday, but let it end with the New Year.

Extra Exercise Tips for the Holidays:

Volunteer! Local shelters, suicide hot-lines, old age and retirement homes, hospitals, and the Red Cross are in dire need of volunteers during the holidays. Deliver meals, cook meals, sit or walk with an old person who has no family, read to someone in the hospital -- there simply is no better way to burn calories or to spread holiday cheer!
Take the dog for a long walk through the neighborhood after dark so you can get a glimpse of the pretty lights in the area, but take a friend along if you have safety concerns. Remember to bring a flashlight and to wear light-colored clothing.
Deliver your holiday gifts on foot!
Go Christmas caroling.
Opt for a walk with a relative or friend, instead of catching up while sitting in a restaurant.
Go Christmas shopping! Walking around in a large mall or shopping center makes for great activity and great fun.
The old standard - don't valet park - park your car yourself and park a walk away from the building. Yes, it's an old tip, but still one of the best. And it’s a good habit to get into...even for after the holidays.
Build a snowman if you live in the northern regions. In fact, make a party of it. Have a neighborhood snowball fight – losing team has to host the neighborhood (or apartment building) cocktail party that night. It’s a great way to meet your neighbors and build some community cheer while bring everyone together.
Don’t feel left out if you live in the southern regions – just get out the rake and bring along some friends. After you've raked up a big pile (of leaves) - well, you know what to do! Make sure someone has a camera and takes lots of shots to send around the following month and make the holiday cheer last.
Do any of the following: ice skate, go sledding, go skiing or snowboarding, play horseshoes, go bowling, dancing, or hula hoop to The Jingle Bell Rock! Move it!
Get a copy of 50 First Dates or The Next 50 Dates for some great date ideas that don't involve food!