| Achieving and maintaining a healthy | | | | company and conversation. If you keep |
| weight can be a struggle, especially | | | | yourself busy chatting with friends, |
| during the holidays. Healthy diet | | | | you'll be less likely to invade the |
| information is particularly useful at | | | | snack table. |
| this time of year. | | | | Go Full |
| If you believe the old stories about | | | | You've likely heard the grocery store |
| much weight people put on during the | | | | trick; don't go shopping when you're |
| holidays, you're right--partially. In a | | | | hungry because you'll only end up buying |
| recent study conducted by The National | | | | more. Well, the same can work for |
| Institute of Health, the researchers | | | | holiday parties! Eat a lot of raw |
| discovered that, in reality, most people | | | | vegetables, and other healthy foods that |
| tend to only put on just slightly under | | | | will stick with you during the party and |
| one pound. But a person who is already | | | | you'll be less tempted to binge on the |
| overweight will average a whopping five | | | | bad stuff. |
| pounds extra after the last horns have | | | | Drink Water |
| been blown. | | | | If you were to add up the calories that |
| But it's not all good news for even | | | | you've probably consumed in sodas, fruit |
| those who put on the minimum because the | | | | punches and alcoholic beverages at |
| study also shows that we all tend to | | | | parties, you would likely be amazed. You |
| keep the pounds put on. In other words, | | | | can gulp down hundreds of calories |
| over ten years, those not-so-much | | | | without even realizing it if you're not |
| pounds, could lead someone to being | | | | careful! Instead of one of these |
| overweight. | | | | high-calorie drinks, make it a habit to |
| So, what can we do in order to keep | | | | drink water--which in itself will help |
| those extra pounds off? After all, our | | | | flush out extra water weight. |
| homes are usually filled with holiday | | | | Create An Eating Schedule |
| pies, cakes and other goodies, and they | | | | It wouldn't be fun--or realistic--to try |
| can be pretty tempting--even for the | | | | and get through an entire party without |
| most faithful of dieters! | | | | at least sampling some of the treats. |
| Here's a few tips to get you through the | | | | But instead of heading instantly to the |
| holidays. | | | | food table and loading your plate--and |
| Just A Nibble! | | | | then suffering the rest of the party |
| Have you ever noticed that when you | | | | because you want more--try spacing out |
| start eating a rich dessert it tastes so | | | | your snacks for the entire time of the |
| good, but by the last bite, you've had | | | | party. Plan on taking a nibble of |
| enough? One way to keep the pounds down | | | | something about every thirty minutes. |
| is just to enjoy a few bites that | | | | Not only will it help you eat less, it |
| delicious cheesecake or chocolate fudge | | | | will be a fun game that you can play |
| brownie. No one says that you have to | | | | with yourself! |
| completely deprive yourself of holiday | | | | Most importantly, remember that the |
| treats--just limit how much you eat! | | | | holidays are meant for enjoyment. Don't |
| Enjoy the Company, Not The Brownies! | | | | be too hard on yourself, and if you make |
| Many people think of holiday parties in | | | | a mistake, talk an extra long walk to |
| terms of the foods that they'll get to | | | | work off those extra calories instead of |
| eat (or have to avoid) instead of the | | | | beating yourself up over it! |
| real reason for the celebration--the | | | | |