7 ways to keep your weight down during the festive seasons

The festive season has arrived again as it inevitably does each year. Once again we are all faced with the difficult prospect of managing our weight during this jolly season. Unless you have will power of steel, forget about losing weight for the next five weeks. You know the season will be filled with a plethora of delicious foods, tasty treats, and holiday cocktails. Trying to lose weight during this time will only frustrate you. Instead, concentrate your efforts on preventing weight gain and maintaining your current weight.

Since gaining weight is almost as difficult as losing weight, maintaining your weight and avoiding weight gain for the next five weeks is feasible. Remember you have to consumer 3500 extra calories to gain one pound of fat. So as long as you don’t overindulge, you should be able to come out of the holiday season a lot poorer but carrying the same weight as you were when the season began. Just keep in mind a few simple rules to help you.

1. Everything in moderation. Keep your serving sizes small. Dinners do not need to grow in size just because you have company or are company. It is not rude to eat normal size portions. It is okay to taste a dessert. Again just keep your serving size small.

2. Fill up on fiber. Fiber helps you feel full longer. It also helps you avoid cravings and overindulging. Before you go to an evening gathering that doesn’t include dinner, eat a dinner packed with foods rich in fiber. And if you are going to a dinner, eat a high fiber snack before going.

3. Decide before you arrive. Don’t wait until you are faced with the abundance of irresistible treats how much you should eat or drink. Once you see the available snacks, your eyes and not your brain will decide. Know before you arrive how much you can reasonable allow yourself without overindulging.

4. Stick to one high calorie drink or food. Do not pack your body with a substantial number of empty calories. Only accept one high calorie item. If the drinks being served are rich and creamy, chances are they have more calories than you can really afford. If you choose the drink as your high calorie item, stick to only one. All your other drinks should be low calorie. Think water or diet.

5. Stay far away from the food. Don’t plant yourself within easy reach of the food. Easy snacking will keep you adding food to your plate. It is easier to limit what you eat when you must make an effort to get it.

6. Don’t stay long. If you know you won’t be able to hold up against temptation, limit the time you spend at the celebration. The less time you have access to the extra treats, the better.

7. Stick to a regular exercise routine. The holidays are extremely busy and stressful. Even the most faithful exercisers tend to put exercise on the back burner. Burning calories regularly will help keep your weight down. And if you overindulge, you can burn the calories with a little extra time exercising.