Dealing with Weight Loss During the Holidays

With the holidays quickly rushing in to meet us, I am starting to dread them. Not because of the money or the stress or even the rushed feeling I get during this time of year. But because of the foods. I, like so many other Americans, have been on a weight loss kick this year. Since I have been very successful during my weight loss journey I have started worrying about all of the holiday foods and the fear of gaining back the nearly 100lbs that I have lost. Then, suddenly, I realized that I already have the knowledge and know how for dealing with weight loss during the holidays. I'll just use the same tips that I've used during the rest of the year. Only a little more forceful than before.

With the holidays come all of the parties and super delicious treats. This is inevitable and there's just nothing we can do about it. What we dieters can do is control what we put into our bodies. This does not mean that we can not enjoy and celebrate the holidays with the people that we love.

Just because you are trying to lose weight does not mean that you can not enjoy your beloved holiday foods. What you should do is practice moderation when enjoying these foods. So instead of eating huge portions and going back for seconds, you could focus on smaller portions of only the foods you can only eat during the holidays. Then cut out the second helpings. This is what we dieters do during the rest of the year so why not practice moderation during the holidays too? Say, for example, that you are at a party that has a buffet with things like chips, dips and lots of other items. Forget about the chips and dips because you could have these any time during the year. Focus more on things that you like that are only out during the holidays. But you should probably leave the egg nog alone since it averages about 350 calories per cup.

If you are going to a holiday party, eat ahead of time. You will be less likely to overeat if you are already filled up on healthy foods. If you must munch at a party, try to aim for lower calorie items such as fruits, veggies, shrimp with cocktail sauce or just a light finger sandwich. Try to stay far away from the friend and greasy foods. You could even bring a dish of your own for the party so that you will know what the calories are already. This will keep you socializing like everyone else without eating all of the fattening foods that are normally found at parties.

Another tip for dealing with holiday parties is to keep the party out of the kitchen. If you socialize in the kitchen then you are more likely to munch, overeat and not pay close enough attention to what and how much you are actually eating. Also try to stay away from all of the alcoholic beverages available during the holidays. Anything with alcohol in it is very high in calories, especially all of the fruity, frothy ones. These can sabotage your weight loss in an instant.

One big mistake that people make during the holidays is to fast all day leading up to the big holiday dinners. This is a huge non-no with dieters and a definite sign of an upcoming disappointment. If you starve yourself all day then you will overeat at that special dinner and all of your willpower goes down the drain. You should try to eat small well-balanced meals during the day leading up to your holiday dinner. This way you aren't overly hungry and will be less likely to overeat.

Speaking of the holiday dinners. While you can eat almost anything, in moderation, there are a few foods that may be better avoided by a dieter during your holiday dinners. Things like gravies, dark meat, dressings and turkey skiin are all filled with hidden fats. Also watch out for dinner rolls and things filled with sugars like candied yams and sweet potato casseroles. Desserts should be eaten in moderation if you don't want to avoid them. It's probably best to choose just one treat and only have one serving of that treat. That way you can still enjoy a dessert with everyone else but won't be overindulging.

When it comes to dealing with weight loss during the holidays it may be easier and more realistic to focus on weight maintance instead of weight loss. By doing this you won't be disappointed and likely to give up on your weight loss goals. You just pick up the weight loss after the holidays. Don't deprive yourself during the holidays either. If you do deprive yourself then you could feel resentful and in turn sabotage yourself into overindulging. This is definitely not a healthy eating plan.

If you find it hard to endure keeping the unhealthy foods at bay then you could try a sinple trick like chewing gum. Doing this keeps your mouth busy, gives you a nice burst of sweetness and helps keep all of those food calories out of your body.

The last tip for dealing with weight loss during the holidays is to keep moving. That's right, keep moving! Exercise is so very important for successful weight loss and could even be more important during the holiday season. It is so easy to forget about your exercise routines when you have to constantly be on the go but this is the most important time for exercise. It helps relieve stree and will help tp increase your energy level during this tiring time of year.

During the holidays stick to your guns and stay focused on your weight loss goals. After the holidays are over, you are the only person who can deal with your gain, loss or maintance. So consider this when you are making your holiday food choices. Just remember that you are not alone. There are so many of us out there in the the same boat. I know I'll be right there on these days trying to make the right choices and to keep up with my workout routines. Good luck to us all!!