• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

October 11, 2009 by ModernMom Staff Leave a Comment

Many people view the holiday season as carte blanche to disregard their daily diet habits and exercise routines. However, it is important to indulge in moderation over the holidays so that you can stay healthy, energized and fit. Avoiding holiday weight gain requires summoning up extra will power in order to stick to your healthy habits. You need to withstand the temptations of rich foods and drinks at work parties, family gatherings and holiday feasts. You also need to carve out special time to exercise amidst the flurry of holiday activities.

Resisting Holiday Temptations

Step 1

Establish a plan for each day as it comes. While weekly or monthly eating and exercise goals may suit you for the rest of the year, the holidays demand more flexibility. If you cannot make your 5 p.m. yoga class due to a work gathering, prepare for this reality by walking during your lunch hour.

Step 2

Avoid arriving hungry to parties and special nights out. It seems counter-intuitive to manage your diet by eating before a party or dinner out, but you can maintain better control of what and how much you eat if you do not arrive to an event starving. A handful of nuts and raisins or a stack of carrots and a glass of water fill you with fiber and give you the energy and mental focus to make wiser food choices.

Step 3

Be attentive to entree choices and portion sizes to control holiday eating. If you’re ordering an entree, opt for a lower-calorie option such as grilled fish and vegetables. One of the bugaboos of restaurant meals is that servings are larger than necessary. For a good holiday diet, stick to the salad, soup and appetizer menu. Portion control extends to alcoholic beverages, too. Empty calories pack those drinks, and stopping yourself after one means you will have extra mental focus for controlling your food choices.

Step 4

Make eating and drinking at parties more challenging. Use the smallest plate possible and refrain from stacking it with food. Fill your first plate with fruits or vegetables only. Station yourself across the crowded room, away from the food and drink tables. Wait half an hour after your vegetable plate before returning for more food.

Step 5

Integrate more daily activity into your life. This serves the dual purposes of controlling holiday weight gain as well as reducing the stress of the season. Invest in a pedometer to track your daily walking. Aim for 10,000 steps per day by parking farther from your office building, driving less, walking during breaks and scheduling walking or hiking dates with friends and family.

Warnings

  • Don’t beat yourself up if you slip and over-indulge. Every day offers a clean slate.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Health/Fitness

About ModernMom Staff

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

Killing Off Supermom

I'll be honest with you. In my house, the beds are rarely … [Read More...] about Killing Off Supermom

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

How to Fix a Broken Slab of Marble

Best Way to Cook Boneless Shoulder Steak

The Best Way to Cook Boneless Shoulder Steak

back pain during first trimester pregnancy

Back Pain During First Trimester Pregnancy

abdominal discomfort during first trimester of pregnancy

Abdominal Discomfort During First Trimester of Pregnancy

Freeze Cooked & Smoked Ham

How to Freeze Cooked & Smoked Ham

Signs of Water Breaking in Pregnancy

Signs of Water Breaking in Pregnancy

Fruit Salad Recipes With Fewer Than Five Ingredients

Fruit Salad Recipes With Fewer Than Five Ingredients

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.