The holidays are the most festive time of the year but they can also be highly stressful if you are watching your diet or trying to lose weight. How can we avoid gaining extra fat while still experiencing a great time this season? You can enjoy the celebration to its fullest and not worry about guilt on Monday if you follow just a few simple ideas.


Don't wait until the big meal to eat. It's understandable to save room for your favorite holiday dishes but starving yourself until the big feast is the last thing that you want to do.

You should enjoy eating sensible snacks to maintain your metabolism. Also, not being famished lowers the chances of your going overboard. It is best to avoid eating too much when dinner is finally served.


Try leaning toward grains and high fiber carbohydrates such as brown rice, wheat breads and wheat flour pasta. Fiber rich foods tend to give most people a full feeling earlier than the same or larger quantity of white flour alternatives. Consider higher protein cottage cheese over sour cream for your potato. No, you don't have to live without the butter but it may benefit your waste line if you do.


Drink plenty of water. It is always important to stay well hydrated. But, when celebrating especially, water replenishes and counters the dehydrating effects of the caffeinated or adult beverages we may have enjoyed. Drinking enough water also can help us to not stuff ourselves with high calorie foods.


Casseroles are always welcomed in my home but steamed vegetables are a nutritious alternative. Use herbs to bring out the natural flavors. You may also consider nuts like vitamin rich Pistachios or raw fruits and vegetables with low fat dips as appetizers over the heavier or higher calorie items better reserved for the main event.

Treat yourself to whatever your heart desires, even desserts and chocolates if you wish. However, do it in moderation. Try sampling in smaller portions so there isn't anything you missed but be sensible on serving size. When you pay attention to the quantity of what you are eating, it increases the quality of these special times.


If the weather is appropriate, enjoy a walk outside with your friends and family. Still truly important is that you have enough physical activity but days like these were meant for leisure. Take the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air before dining or after your post feast nap. Doing so will help you be certain to burn at least a few of those extra calories.

Food doesn't need to be the only focus of your celebration's fun time. Since the group is together, why not exercise each other's mind with the board games hid away in your closet? Children and kids at heart may already be playing video games but when was the last time you enjoyed a good trivia or word game? Some of the most memorable family or friendship bonds can be made over a triple letter score.


Speaking of kids, it's important for us adults to set a good example. Food is crucial for us to live and should never be something to feel guilty over. Encourage children to enjoy the holiday with healthy treats, physical activity, and good feelings about food. What we discover and experience as children during these social occasions can often last as wonderful memories throughout our entire lifetime.


------

For more good sense diet tips and to discover Cindy Lewis' easy weight loss secrets, visit her website at http://www.easyweightlosssecrets.com and register for her free online diet class.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_16542_23.html

Is it possible to avoid those holiday pounds?

We all know that maintaining your diet and weight loss plan during the holidays can more than a little difficult. In fact, maintaining your ideal weight during the holiday season can seem almost impossible. Fortunately, if you believe the old stories about how much weight people put on during the holidays, you're only partially correct. In a recent study conducted by The National Institute of Health, the researchers discovered that, in reality, most people tend to put on just under one pound. However, a person who is already overweight will average a whole five pounds extra during the holiday season.

Unfortunately, the study also shows that people tend to keep those holiday pounds on. In other words, over ten years, those "not-so-much pounds", could lead someone to being overweight.

So, what can we do in order to keep those extra pounds off? How do we lose weight put on during the holidays? After all, our homes are usually filled with holiday pies, cakes and other goodies, and they can be pretty tempting even for the most faithful of dieters!



Here's a few tips to get you through the holidays.


Just a Nibble!

Have you ever noticed that when you start eating a rich dessert it tastes so good, but by the last bite, you've had enough? One way to keep the pounds down is just to enjoy a few bites of that delicious cheesecake or chocolate fudge brownie. No one says that you have to completely deprive yourself of holiday treats just limit how much you eat!


Enjoy the Company, Not The Brownies!

Many people think of holiday parties in terms of the foods that they'll get to eat (or have to avoid) instead of the real reason for the celebration the company and conversation. If you keep yourself busy chatting with friends, you'll be less likely to invade the snack table.


Go Full

You've likely heard the grocery store trick; don't go shopping when you're hungry because you'll only end up buying more. Well, the same can work for holiday parties! Eat a lot of raw vegetables, and other healthy foods that will stick with you during the party and you'll be less tempted to binge on the bad stuff.


Drink Water

If you were to add up the calories that you've probably consumed in sodas, fruit punches and alcoholic beverages at parties, you would likely be amazed. You can gulp down hundreds of calories without even realizing it if you're not careful! Instead of one of these high-calorie drinks, make it a habit to drink water which in itself will help flush out extra water weight.


Create an Eating Schedule

It wouldn't be fun or realistic to try and get through an entire party without at least sampling some of the treats. But instead of heading instantly to the food table and loading your plate and then suffering the rest of the party because you want more try spacing out your snacks for the entire party. Plan on taking a nibble of something about every thirty minutes. Not only will it help you eat less, it will be a fun game that you can play with yourself!

Most importantly, remember that the holidays are meant for enjoyment. Don't be too hard on yourself, and if you make a mistake, talk an extra long walk to work off those extra calories instead of beating yourself up over it!


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Adam Waxler publishes the Weight-Loss-Power-Package...a collection of six weight loss ebooks guaranteed to help you lose weight. Check out the complete package here: http://www.weight-loss-power-package.com and check out his blog for free weight loss tips here: http://www.weight-loss-machine.com/blog

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_16186_23.html