Holiday Weight Gain

It's that time of year again: ham, cookies, and all other tasty temptations await you at every party.  How do you deal with holiday weight gain?  I'll give you a few suggestions:


1. Get Real

What you eat at Christmas dinner isn't the problem: the real problem is what you have been eating and doing those other 364 days of the year. 

How many people, for example, say something like this: "I'm really blowing my diet."  How many of those people are exactly the same size they were last year?  

In other words, I'm challenging you to be honest with yourself.  Don't blame the holiday season for a whole year's worth of bad habits.


2. Be Flexible

Let's say you really do want to limit the damage done during the holidays.  I'd suggest you be flexible and realistic.  Limit your splurging to a few parties or meals, but don't try to completely avoid the holiday goodies (it just doesn't work).  Here's what I think many just don't understand: one meal doesn't make much difference if you are consistent most of the time. 

This is one of the negative messages conveyed in The Biggest Loser (I love the show, but it isn't perfect).  You see contestants doing all-out training for hours on end.  Then comes the "temptation challenge."  Bob and Jillian act like it's the end of the world because some guy scarfed down a pizza or bowl of ice cream to win the challenge.  But one meal rarely makes that much difference for those who are training hard and eating right the rest of the time.  Sometimes the before-mentioned binge eater ends up winning the next weigh-in.

Be flexible and don't feel guilty over a good holiday meal.  That's wasted emotional energy.

3.  Prepare for New Year's

Let's say you are starting to think about losing weight or getting back in shape.  Why not wait and make it a New Year's resolution?  Wait until there are fewer temptations around to short-circuit your goals.  The New Year may energize you with thoughts of new beginnings.

Final Thoughts:

What will I be doing this December?  The "Santa Claus" diet!  That's right--I'm pretty much going to eat what I want.  I'm going to enjoy the holidays, then start the new year with renewed focus on my fitness goals.