Christmas is Coming- Avoid Holiday Diet Disasters

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The average American gains three to eight pounds over the holiday season. The holidays are generally filled with large meals, cookies, pies, stress, and alcoholic beverages. What’s a dieter to do?

Follow these tips and strategies to make sure you are still looking and feeling fantastic as you ring in the New Year.

Set a Goal you Can Achieve:
The biggest mistake you can make is to set yourself up for disappointment. If you commit to losing twenty pounds over the holidays and you gain ten, you could become so frustrated that you give up completely. Setting goals based off specific numbers makes failure too easy. Instead, visualize how you want the holiday season to go, and decide if it would be most realistic for you to continue to lose weight, maintain your current weight, or have a controlled weight gain. Yes, it is better to plan to gain a little weight over the holidays than it is to lose control by fixating on an impossible goal. Be honest with yourself. Write your goal down and keep it somewhere you will see it every day, like taped to your bathroom mirror or refrigerator.

Do your Research:
Think about all the events you will be attending or hosting this holiday. Get out your healthy cookbooks and pre-select the dishes you will bring to parties or serve to your guests. This way you know there will see something healthy available at all your events. You also won’t find yourself throwing unhealthy meals together at the last minute in the midst of the holiday stress. As an added bonus, you can save money by making a list of all the ingredients you will need and watching for them to go on sale.

Swear Off Seconds:
Commit to a One Plate Rule at all your holiday dinners and parties. You can splurge on your favorites, but they have to fit on one plate. This includes appetizers and desserts too. No grazing allowed, you only eat one time. This is a great way to avoid overeating without depriving yourself. You are also setting yourself a clear and manageable mini-goal. Each time you achieve your mini-goal you’ll have a satisfying little ego boost that will help keep you on track all season!

Shop ‘til you Drop:
Tempted to do all your shopping online? Don’t. Get out to the mall, take the far away parking space, and carry your own bags. Shopping is a great workout. If you just can’t stand to face the crowds, do your shopping online, but give the time you save back to yourself. For every gift you buy online, commit to an extra half hour spent working out either at the gym or at home.

The holidays do not have to be your diet deal-breaker. Keep focused on your goal all season, and then celebrate on New Years Eve with a glass of champagne and a toast to your good health!


By: Marissa Selner