Avoid Weight Gain This Holiday Season

Tired of the same old weight loss New Years Resolution? The average American gains between 5 and 10 pounds over the holiday season. Holidays are heavily focused around highly caloric food and drinks. Let's switch the focus from eating to enjoying conversation and catching up with everyone we rarely see. Leaving a holiday party without having spent the entire time thinking about food can be amazingly rewarding. Here are 8 ways to help keep you healthy and not gain holiday pounds this year!

1) Limit yourself to one plate only. Men, that also means one layer. Carefully choose no more than 4-5 food items. Enjoy your favorites and ignore the rest. Eat slowly and savor the good stuff that isn't available the rest of the year.

2) Enjoy two alcoholic drinks tops. More than that cause you to loose your inhibitions and induces careless binge eating. Trust me, I know.

3) Don't hang out in the kitchen or around the buffet table. Kitchens can often be the most popular places to linger. Get out. Staring at food encourages unwanted grazing. Don't tempt yourself.

4) Don't arrive famished. Don't starve yourself all day just to be able to binge at the party. This will leave you ravenous and you will be set up for failure.

5) Bring your favorite vegetable dish. This way you always have something healthy to nosh on.

6) Offer to cut and serve dessert. Most people will be done eating it by the time you are done serving so you can avoid feeling awkward watching everyone else top off their bellies. Save around 300 calories by sipping some after dinner coffee with a few teaspoons of sugar for a sweet treat instead. If you must have dessert, skip the crust on pies and skip the whip cream.

7) Wear something tight. At least avoid something loose. This will automatically help remind you to avoid overeating so you can steer clear of that after eating belly bloat.

8) Don't start a diet during the holiday season. The holiday season is difficult enough without adding on this extra stress. Just aim to make healthy choices. When you fall off the wagon, get over it and make a good choice the next time around.