Hold That Line: How to Keep the Weight Off During the Holidays

While the weight an average person gains during the six-week period between Thanksgiving and New Year is not that great (numerous studies place it at about a pound), that pound usually stays with us. This phenomenon is referred to as “weight creep,” where-by we gradually add weight as we age at the rate of 10-20 pounds per decade. However, for some people, the holidays turn into a weeks long struggle to maintain, not only their weight, but also the healthy lifestyle they’ve followed for the past 11 months. But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can still enjoy the holidays while maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle and here’s how…

1. Make a frickin’ commitment to continue with your healthy diet and lifestyle through January 1^st and go public with that commitment. Share it with your friends and family and ask them to assist in any way possible. Simply having them ask, “Hey, did you exercise today?” or, “Do you really need that 3^rd sugar cookie?” is enough to keep you on the straight and narrow. Write little notes of commitment to yourself on sticky notes and place them on your fridge, bathroom mirror, steering wheel of your car, etc. Some examples might include “broccoli is your friend,” “Make good health your Christmas present to yourself,” or “Quit salivating and drop the apple pie.”
2. Do NOT totally cut yourself off from the bad foods you love, just limit the damage by staying mindful (the hip new term in the diet world) of what and how much you’re eating. In other words, always be aware of what you are shoving in your pie hole at all times. Do not mindlessly shovel sweets into your tummy while being distracted by football games, political discussions, or Hallmark Channel holiday movies…which are nefariously addicting even though the acting is on par with a 4^th grade holiday play. When you do eat holiday sweets, eat them veeeeery slowly and have a predetermined amount in your head prior to indulging.
3. Limit your alcohol intake both at home and at gatherings as I hope most of you realize that it lowers your inhibitions. How many of us have said, “Screw it, I can definitely make that jump!” after imbibing a few too many beers or Moscow mules? Well, the same principle applies to alcohol and food at holiday gatherings. The phrase just changes to “Screw it, I’ll have as many lemon bars as I damn well please.” And remember, there are about 120 calories in a 5-ounce glass of wine, 150 in a 12-ounce beer, and 180 in a 6-ounce Moscow mule.
4. Keep the bad stuff out of the house if you’re staying home this holiday season and that includes baking your own. Go with the philosophy of “If it ain’t there, I won’t eat it.” Also, purchase or make your own healthy snacks to keep on hand, such as nuts, fruit (berries are perfect) and veggies with hummus.
5. Drink plenty of water especially before holiday meals and parties as this leads to eating less. Also, drink water instead of sugar-filled juices and sodas whenever possible.
6. Work exercise into your daily schedule and stick to it! The holidays tend to break up our regular daily routines which causes us to skip our exercise sessions. Up a little too late drinking in the company of friends and cocktails? Guess what? You’ll more than likely skip your morning walk/jog, spin class, or strength training session. If that’s the case, be flexible and do your best to work that session back into your schedule later in the day, or just suck it up and exercise with a hangover. You won’t die, you’ll just feel like you’re about to.

As I said at the beginning of this article, do NOT let ten months of hard work go to waste over the course of six weeks at the end of the year. Have a sense of commitment, dedication, resolve, devotion, or any other synonym you need as you head into the holidays this year. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through the holidays can be achieved. You’ve just got to have a reason to achieve it.