·         Strive for five-a-day. Ensure that you eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day. They contain fewer calories then most other foods and far more nutrients. Plus, since they often are high in fiber they help make you fill full. So, promise yourself that before you’ll indulge in any holiday “goodies” you’ll first eat your five-a-day.

·         Allow indulgences but limit them. Preferably, permit yourself to have one cookie or piece of candy per day. But, no more than that. That doesn’t mean you have to have a goodie every day and it also doesn’t give you free reign to eat two servings one day because you didn’t eat any the day before. Stick to your limits. And, remember that even just one indulgence a day may require you to reduce your calorie intake somewhere else or burn extra calories.

·         Give yourself an early gift. Make it a priority to do some type of physical activity every day, no matter how short. Exercise is a major factor in both preventing weight gain and losing weight. Schedule your exercise times on your calendar and don’t let anything brush them aside. Taking care of yourself is the best gift you can give.

·         Keep it in perspective. Overeating at one meal is not going to be the cause of a permanent weight gain. But, if you use that as an excuse “I’ve already sabotaged my day anyway…”, then it could lead to a snowball effect. Don’t allow it to stop you from exercising that day or the next or give you an excuse to overeat all day long.

·         Go to the back of the line. When at a party with a buffet, allow others to hit the food table first. It’s likely that many of the most enticing (and calorie heavy) foods may be gone before you get your plate, thus eliminating some of your temptations.

·         On days that you really lack motivation or simply do not have time for your complete exercise routine, commit to do just 10 minutes of exercise. You’ll probably end up doing more than that once you get started. Even if you only end up completing 10 minutes, that is still a lot better than zero minutes.

·         When at a party, scout out healthy food options rather than doing a grab and run on all the unhealthy selections. For example, vegetable sticks (without dip), fruit pieces, plain chicken pieces, etc. Then move on to some of the less healthy (but yummy) offerings. You will be less likely to overindulge on these foods if you have already filled-up on some of the healthier items. Yet, you will not feel deprived or unsatisfied.

·         Avoid wasting calories on alcoholic beverages. The average alcoholic drink contains 150-200 calories per glass. Indulge in just 2-3 drinks and you’ve drunk the equivalent calories of an entire meal. If you partake in these beverages, choose wisely. For example, instead of having a full glass of wine, try mixing half a glass of wine with sparkling water or with a diet soda. This will help cut your calories in half.

·         Don’t linger at the buffet or in the kitchen. If you loiter in close proximity to all the guilty temptations, you’ll struggle to keep from unconsciously shoveling food into your mouth.

·         Focus on socializing. Remember one of the great things about the holidays is spending time with friends and family. During get-togethers spend the majority of time sharing conversation instead of sharing desserts.

If you would like to publish this article in print or electronically, please contact Lynn, click here.