How To Avoid Gaining the Holiday 7

As the holidays approach, a frequent question from my clients and subscribers is "How can I avoid gaining weight during the holidays"? Their concern is legitimate. The average American adult gains seven pounds of fat between Thanksgiving and New Years Day.

However, with a little know-how and effort you don't have to be "average". In fact, I've seen many people actually lose a few pounds over the holidays and feel great while doing it.

One of my clients said it best, "Greg, I can't tell you how good it feels to have lost three pounds during the holidays instead of gaining ten pounds as I used to do. My friends are jealous. It's January 2nd and I'm feeling (and looking) lean and mean. And, best of all, I actually enjoyed the holidays more because I always felt energetic. In years past, inactivity and lots of food made me constantly sluggish and tired."

Here are a few tips that can bring you into the new year without any new pounds..

1. Do some type of exercise everyday, preferably every morning. Now this can be as simple as a 15 minute walk some days but it's VERY important that you do something everyday. Physiologically, this keeps your metabolism elevated, helps to control your appetite, and ENERGIZES you!

Mentally, daily exercise increases your mental acuity for hours after exercise, and it keeps you in a "healthy" frame of mind. Many people tell me that daily exercise helps them to make better food choices because it makes them feel like they are doing something healthy for themselves. Commit to doing at least 15 minutes, but preferably 30 to 60 minutes everyday during the holidays. I think you'll be surprised.

2. Don't deprive yourself of those holiday goodies that you enjoy. Tell yourself that you can eat whatever you'd like to as long as it's in moderation. For example, eat one Christmas brownie instead of five. Take small bites of that brownie, chew it well, savor every bite so you can really enjoy the taste rather than rushing to swallow it. The same for meals, don't deprive yourself of the foods you enjoy but eat them in moderation and savor every bite.

3. Have lots of "healthy" foods available at your home during the holidays. Make a big fruit salad to keep in the frig when you need a snack. Have some of your favorite veggies ready to eat for when you're hungry. Make a big salad and keep it ready to eat in the frig.

4. Don't allow yourself to get too hungry. The hungrier you are, the less control you have over your eating. Always eat some healthy, filling food before going to a party, dinner, or any situation where you will be exposed to lots of tempting food.

5. Strictly limit or avoid alcohol. Alcohol is really bad news!I call it the "triple whammy"! it depresses your metabolism, stimulates your appetite, and it's loaded with calories. Alcohol has as many calories per gram as fat!

So, get energized with some daily exercise and moderate food consumption, and REALLY enjoy the holidays.. AND January 2.

copyright 2004 by Greg Landry, M.S.

Author and exercise physiologist, Greg Landry, offers free, unique weight loss and fitness articles at his site.. http://www.Landry.com

---

Secrets of Gastric Bypass Surgery: Lose Weight Without Surgery

There's more to gastric bypass than surgery and rapid massive... Read More

How Water Can Help You Lose Weight Fast

Here are the 4 things you need to know about... Read More

Weight Loss Problems ? Or is it a Self Image Problem?

Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More

Citric Fruits - A Healthy Food

New studies suggested once again that citric fruits including oranges,... Read More

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #8

Life is extraordinary filled with wonderful people to show up... Read More

What is the Glycemic Index?

Over the last 30 years, research into food and blood... Read More

Obesity, Whats The Big Deal

Nowadays, so much of the public is obese (fat) that... Read More

Im Freezing! Why Gastric Bypass Causes Patients to be Cold

Body temperature is the result of your body generating and... Read More

5 Amazing Diet Tips for Powerful Weightloss

Before you try starving yourself or turning to diet drugs... Read More

First Component of Weight Loss

Any true body transformation starts with self?discovery. It is an... Read More

How to Buy Chocolate Then Forget to Eat It

Some Say I'm Strange. I Prefer to Think of Myself... Read More

A Before and After Look at Tummy Tucks

If you have a protruding abdomen, loose skin as a... Read More

Weight Loss Tips, Tricks, and Tactics - Part 1

I personal lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some... Read More

A Look at Bariatric Surgery Complications

Although many patients have few problems after bariatric surgery, there... Read More

Want Power Before Will Power

The problem isn't that you don't have enough will power... Read More

Side Effects of The Famous Ephedra Product

Ephedra has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of... Read More

Tired Of Struggling To Lose Weight?

There are many factors that cause us to increase body... Read More

Fighting Cellulite and Winning

Cellulite ? a word most women are very familiar with.... Read More

Weight Loss vs. Fat Loss

In order to lose weight, your body must burn more... Read More

3 Simple Weight Loss Tips from the Pros

Tip 1) DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AFTER EACH SNACKThis... Read More

Theres Still Time for Your New Years Resolution and Lowering Body Mass Index

This year, we all made some of the typical New... Read More

Breakfast and Weight Loss

Some people think that skipping breakfast will help them lose... Read More

The Missing Ingredient in Your Diet That is Keeping You Fat and Tired

Whenever I hear someone say they just can't lose weight,... Read More

NotOneOunce -- The Run-up To Thanksgiving

The 8-Week Campaign to Survive the HolidaysEating preparations in the... Read More

Cleansing the Body for a Detox Weight Loss!

Cleansing: How to Kickstart your Alkaline LifestyleDue to the highly... Read More

4 Tips for Fast Fat Loss Part IV

Fat Loss Tip #4) Eat More ProteinYes, it's important to... Read More

Lose Weight - Diet Tips For Fast Weight Loss

Looking to lose weight quickly? The good news is that... Read More

How to Lose Weight in a Healthy Way with Hypnosis

More and more people are turning to hypnosis or hypnotherapy... Read More

Five Tips for Easy Weight Loss!

Weight loss is a hot topic among people today, especially... Read More

The RESULTS Diet!

R...real foodE...exerciseS...spiritual stuff first and the other stuff secondU...ultimately, you... Read More

The South Beach Diet

Among the most popular forms of dieting is the South... Read More

Gastric Bypass Surgery ? What Happens Afterwards?

After patients have had gastric bypass surgery comes a very... Read More

Atkins Diet in UK

The most recent shocking news related to Atkins diet UK... Read More