Americans gain about a pound on average during the holiday season; the problem that results is that these pounds accumulate over the years and can lead to obesity, according to National Institutes of Health. This is because the weight gained during the holiday season is too often not lost after the season ends, notes the MayoClinic.com. Therefore, avoiding the initial weight gain all together will help reduce the chances of future obesity or unwanted weight gain in general.
Stick to Vegetables
Whether you are attending a party or throwing a holiday party of your own, stick to vegetables. Fill up your plate from the vegetable platter. Avoid dipping these vegetables in the high fat or high calorie dips and spreads. This will compromise your efforts to avoid holiday weight gain. Having vegetables on your plate will give you something healthy to nibble on, helping you resist the urge to snack on high calorie party foods.
Throw a holiday party of your own and serve a colorful array of fresh vegetables and light dips and spreads; options include hummus and mustard.
Avoid Temptations
Avoid bringing holiday goodies such as baked goods and candy to the office. This will only tempt you and make you very likely to consume your own treats. Resist grabbing a plate and getting a portion of treats at office parties. Evade temptation by putting a new piece of sugar free gum in your mouth as others begin to eat the holiday sweets.
Eat Before
Eat healthy before you go to any holiday parties. Consume a filling healthy snack before the party to help resist the urge to overeat when you get there. Eat a cup of fruit or a handful of almonds shortly prior to arriving at the party.
Eat Your Fruit
Baking treats during holiday time is a tradition for many people. Generally, holiday treats are made with unhealthy fats and calorie rich ingredients. Keep weight gain at bay by searching for new holiday recipes made primarily with raw fruits or nuts and containing very little, if any, added sugar or fats.
Make these healthy snacks instead of the traditional high calorie options. Then, you can snack on your holiday homemade treats without fear of weight gain.
Increase Your Calorie Burn
The Cleveland Clinic recommends that increasing your exercise routine during the holidays rather than decreasing it. Increase the amount you exercise so you will be less likely to experience weight gain if you indulge in a holiday treat occasionally. Add an additional day to your exercise routine or spend 10 more minutes a day engaged in aerobic activity.
Don't Hover
Stay away from the food area as much as possible at parties and gatherings. Avoid hovering in the kitchen or over the buffet area. The inability to constantly access food will make you less likely to overeat. Instead, spend your time socializing and engaging in conversations with people in rooms that do not contain food.
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