Avoiding Weight Gain During the Holiday

The average person gains about seven pounds during the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This probably comes as no surprise considering most people have huge meals on Thanksgiving and Christmas. You are visiting family and going to parties. All of these events have lots of food. On top of this, people are busier, shopping, so they eat out much more. Starting the new year with extra weight is not ideal for most people. Trying to avoid such gain? Try some of these tips to keep your weight under control.

Indulge occasionally but not every day. The reality is you are going to eat. You are going to eat things that are not good for you. You should! This is a fun time of year and you should have some of your favorite foods. Just don't make it every day. Reserve such foods for family dinners, parties and gatherings. Try to stay on your regular diet the rest of the time. If you are on a plan that allows you one cheat day a week, this is the day to have you favorite foods. Just remember moderation is the key. You must remember to nip it back in the bud the next day. If not, you will develop a pattern that will quickly lead to lots of weight gain.

Hit the gym. There is no substitute for exercise. It's even more critical during the holidays that you hit the gym regularly. You should be getting 3-4 workouts a week, each about 30-45 minutes. If you have a bad day or two, kick your workouts up to 4-5 times a weekend. Sure you want to rest and enjoy your holiday, but don't become so relaxed that you stop working out. Hit the gym hard and you will avoid the weight gain.

Change your focus. Instead of focusing on eating during the holidays but the focus on something else. Concentrate on having great conversations or reconnecting with family and friends. Just because others are eating doesn't mean you have to! While they are chowing down, you can be talking and getting acquainted with others. Challenge yourself to stick to your regular plan as much as possible. If others are eating extra, focus your attention in another place.

Stay busy. Within reason, keep yourself active. This doesn't mean you are on the treadmill or the bicycle. Just getting out of the house and moving around, walking in stores or playing outdoors. Keeping yourself active will help you to burn more calories and keep your mind off of eating. Find activities to occupy your mind as well. If you are sitting in front of the tube your entire vacation, you are bound to put something in your mouth.

Don't let mistakes stop you. Everyone messes up. That's life. You may eat too much. You may even learn you have gained some weight. Don't let this be an excuse to keep 'waddling in the mud.' Get up and get back on track. Find a way to get to the gym, or stay away from the food that is hurting you. You got to keep a positive attitude if you expect to keep the weight off.

Avoiding weigh loss during the holidays can be a huge challenge. However with a little effort, some planning and persistence, you can keep extra pounds away and still enjoy this time of year!