Christmas has become synonymous to get togethers of family and friends, enjoying festive meals and a lot of drinking perhaps. So it’s not surprising that many people usually gain weight during this season 

There are ways to avoid gaining too much extra pounds though which could help us to avoid having regrets after the holiday season. That big OMG!

It’s the favorite season of many of us and though most are happy  about  the  gift-giving and get togethers, some people dread it because  it means splurging  and binge eating, and  to some doing all these would be synonymous to gaining weight; a big ouch after the holiday season.

What’s unfortunate is that the weight gained on Christmas might not ‘disappear’ during the following year. The weight might just keep on adding over the years, so holiday weight gain could pack extra  pounds in the years to come. A bigger ouch!

But wait, we can avoid that possible ‘problem’ in the future. Here are a few tips to avoid  the unwanted weight gain and a possible belly bulge:

Put the holidays in proper perspective.

This time is about giving, sharing, gathering and enjoying the company of family and friends and not just eating. If you think of it as a time to eat, your actions will follow your thought patterns. Would it help to be reminded that Christmas is about the nativity?

It’s the holiday season, but  the actual holidays are actually just a few days. Don’t use the holidays as an excuse not to be fit.  Christmas  is  not an excuse  not to have healthy meals, enough sleep and certainly not an excuse to abandon your fitness regimen. Having cake and sweets (at home and at work) should not be an everyday thing.

What can you do?

Before going  to the party, have a small well-balanced snack in advance.

How about some reduced-fat cheese, whole-grain crackers and an apple. When in get togethers,  do not linger in the kitchen or near the buffet table. Walk around, greet people and mingle, not with food but with the gifts you’re bringing.

Just because the food is served doesn’t mean that you have to eat everything.

Admittedly,  a lot of get togethers include a lot of tempting dishes and there are too many favorites waiting for your taste buds. How to look away when a feast fit for a king is served buffet style?  Well, eat only what you really want to eat. Pass up the rest.

You don’t need to completely say no to holiday meals; just make better choices without denying yourself.

Munch on raw vegetables with low-calorie dip, grilled veggies and other low-calorie hors d’oeuvres. Fill your plate with lean meats, lots of veggies, and whole grains (if available) or a small amount of starch. Enjoy a glass of wine with your meal and  do not binge on beer. If you must drink, drink wine and always hold your glass. This will keep your dominant hand from getting food from time to time. lol

Keep your dessert small or share it. Trade in candied yams for baked ones, and skip the sauces.

Avoid skipping meals.  

Eat normally on the day of a party. Don’t skip meals to make room for more in an attempt to get the best out of a buffet  or eat all you can. People who skip meals to save up calories tend to overeat everything in sight once they”re near the buffet table.

Eat sensibly throughout the day and you will find that this will take the edge off the appetite and empower a bit of restraint. Start with a nourishing breakfast, have a light lunch, then a small snack or salad shortly before the event.

And hmmm…perhaps a short mantra would help? “I will not eat everything served…”

Goodluck!