How to Get a Handle on the Holiday Food Blitz

holiday weight gainNow that Thanksgiving is over,  the holiday season is truly in full swing. Preventing weight gain over the holiday season is challenging when there’s a food blitz everywhere. Here’s a few tips to help you get a handle on the holiday food and prevent weight gain:

  • Use an online tracker or wearable device:  Keep track of food intake and your daily activity. Studies suggest that tracking what you do each day helps to keep you mindful of what you eat.
  • Set Limits Around Alcohol: Alcoholic beverages are empty calories and often stimulate  appetite. Alcohol also reduces self-control. This can be problematic at parties where alcohol and food are served. Develop a strategy to keep alcoholic beverages to a minimum.
  • Makeover High Calorie Recipes: If you have calorie-rich traditional  recipes to prepare, consider using alternative ingredients or techniques that help lighten  the load. Substitute whole milk for heavy cream, and use less butter or  sugar. Many times a recipe can withstand a reduction in sugar, butter, or heavy cream by 30-50%.
  • Keep on Weighing yourself:  Step on the scale at least once a week.  A recent study found that people who weighed themselves frequently lost more weight over a  six month period than those who seldom weighed themselves.
  •  Get Adequate Sleep and Manage Your Stress: The holidays are a  stressful time for many people. Lack of sleep adds to the stress. Make sure you get adequate sleep, maintain regular physical activity, and keep  your time-management realistic for a more stress-free holiday season.

You can also read my article “Tips for Surviving Holiday Eating Without Guilt and Weight Gain”.

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