11 Ways to Lose Weight Before the Holidays

Losing weight during the holiday season is usually an impossible task, and few people want to think about healthy foods and hitting the gym during the peak holiday months. Unfortunately, many people leave the holidays a few pounds heavier and promise to stick with a new routine by New Year's. Why not lose weight before the holidays even begin? Here are eleven ways to lose a few pounds before entertaining season gets the best of you:

1. Cut back your soda routine. Commit to an every-other-day schedule for soda if you're a daily soda junkie and save yourself about 120 -150 calories per day. Sugary soda can make you retain water and put you on the sugar high spin cycle.

2. Run a marathon. October and November are prime time months for charity races and run/walk events. Training for a marathon can give you an extra incentive to eat better and keep up with an exercise routine. Raising that metabolism regularly before the holidays can give you an advantage when it's time to chow down.

3. Add some weight to your workouts. Increasing resistance for your workouts can shift your metabolism into high gear and make it easier to lose weight in the long-term. Start building up weights on your usual routine and burn up those calories with ease.

4. Avoid the fad diet like the devil. Even when friends and coworkers are jumping onto the next South Beach Diet bandwagon, you'll be stuck on a deprivation cycle before the holidays begin - and set yourself up for a season of bingeing instead. Avoid the latest fad and commit to a balanced eating plan instead; consistency does generate results.

5. Eat your biggest meal earlier in the day. Most people need at least one large meal to ward off hunger pangs throughout the day, but timing this meal can make the difference when you want to lose weight. Schedule your largest meals before 3 p.m. so your body has time to burn it off by the end of the day.

6. Eat more lean protein. Whether you're a fan of salmon or veggie burgers, load up on lean protein to ward off hunger pangs and maintain your strength and energy. Cutting back on protein can leave you stressed and fatigued, so power up that diet with protein for a boost of energy - and reduce your dependency on sugar and caffeine.

7. Eat a wholesome breakfast. Colder months ahead might have you craving comfort food and snacks, but you can avoid overindulging when temperatures drop by raising your metabolism. The easiest way to do that is to eat breakfast; whole grains are ideal, so stock up on oatmeal or other hot cereals for a boost of nutrition.

8. Set limits on alcohol. The colder months and holiday season will encourage you to enjoy a toast (or two; or three), but those extra calories can add up fast. Limit alcoholic intake to just one glass of wine or light liquor a couple of times per week.

9. Don't fall for the fat free myth. Almost all fat-free products contain high amounts of sugar to mask the often-tasteless flavor of the product. Limit fat-free snacking and savor a small portion of the real deal instead; allowing yourself to enjoy a small bite of your favorite foods can ward off cravings and leae you feeling less deprived.

10. Start walking to work. Make walking a part of your daily routine, whether it involves parking your car further away so you can walk a few extra steps or just running errands on foot. Walking burns a modest amount of calories per hour, but does charge up your metabolism and gives you a boost of energy to get through your day.

11. Schedule an early morning workout. Working out at the end of the day can be a hard schedule to stick with, especially when you're stressed out and tired after work. An early morning routine can also give your metabolism a boost, and you won't have to worry about logging in gym time once the hardest part is over.