Believe it nor not, most Americans gain 1 to 10 pounds during the holiday season. If you want to avoid
holiday weight gain, and later struggling to lose those excess pounds, you will need to remain focused and aware of your caloric intake and activity level.

Here are some specific strategies the will enable you to manage your cravings, your stress level and help
you avoid the weight gain during this time of caloric bombardment.


Before You Arrive
You are going to travel this holiday season - even if it's just across town to the company Christmas Party.
When you go, take some healthy snacks with you. Make a deliberate effort not to arrive at the holiday party
hungry; instead curb your appetite with veggies, fruits and a bit of lean protein.   It's much easier to
avoid the unhealthy items at the party if you arrive feeling slightly full.   Most find that "feeling full"
is the best strategy for appetite control and avoiding the junk food.


Once You Arrive
Politely insist on serving yourself and eat small portions. If you don't arrive hungry, its easy to eat
slowly. Before the meal, leave the food area and mingle in another room. During the meal, enjoy seconds or
thirds of what you love, and don't feel guilty about throwing away what's less than delicious. Most
importantly, take a brisk walk after a holiday meal or party, even if it’s only for 5 or 10 minutes. A
brisk walk will enable you to regain a sense of control, and help you to immediately re-focus your thoughts away from all the goodies and back onto your health and wellness goals.


Be Picky
Your job at the party is to become a finicky food manager. Choose seasonal foods you only get during the
holidays and skip foods that are available the rest of the year. For example, choose a little pecan pie but
skip that slice of bread during your meal.


Keep Your Goals Realistic
As the holidays get into full swing, focus on maintaining your current weight and not on losing weight. Once the New Year arrives you can focus on weight loss; for now, stay focused and don’t get into a fitness lull and use the season as an excuse to avoid moderate exercise. Of course, goodies in moderation are fine, but beware of what you’re eating and how much. When you find yourself enjoying too many treats, spend the next day getting back to your normal routine of healthy eating and make an effort to bike, walk or jog.

Don't Set Yourself Up For Failure
For some this expectation of "weight maintainence" will be a ...continues on the next page.