Don’t let your diet derail during the holidays. Sure,
you’ll be surrounded by high-fat, high-calorie treats. But
you can successfully navigate this season of indulgence
with the help of these tips:

1. Adopt the right attitude.
One of the reasons so many people gain weight during this
season is because they allow themselves to let go of their
regular eating patterns. They figure that they will be
gaining weight anyway so why not indulge in their holiday
favorites? Don’t fall into this trap. Keep a goal of at
least maintaining your previous weight loss during the
holiday season. Don’t use parties as an excuse to overeat
and gain back all of the weight that you have previously
worked so hard to lose.

2. Eat before you party.
One of the main reasons for overeating is allowing yourself
to get too hungry. When you starve yourself for a big
event, you’ll end up eating more than your body needs. Plan
for success by eating a small, healthy meal before you go a
holiday party. If you have something in your stomach,
you’ll be able to pass by the rich desserts and cookies and
choose wisely.

3. Decide on your “cheats” ahead of time.
If you think you have to go through three months without
touching a piece of chocolate, think again. When you
deprive yourself, you’ll end up caving in and binging on
all the delicious holiday food around you. Alternately, if
you go to an event make yourself a deal. Eat a healthy
plate from the buffet table and then allow yourself a small
slice of pumpkin pie. Choose something you really love and
then use that as a reward for sticking to your plan the
rest of the time. Although it’s normally not a good idea to
reward yourself with food, it could be your saving grace
during the holiday season.

4. Increase Your activity.
A lot of people gain weight during the winter months
because their activity levels have decreased. Instead of
spending the evening playing in the backyard with the
family like they did during the summer, they will bundle up
and watch television. Make sure your activity level is
increased throughout the winter months. Invest in an
exercise DVD and commit yourself to completing the workout
at least three times a week. Take up a new winter sport,
such as ice skating or skiing. Do extra housework
throughout the day to get your body moving, or take a walk
around your office building on your lunch break. The more
activity you do, the more you’ll be able to burn off the
occasional piece of Christmas fudge or pumpkin pie.

Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape.com and
Susies-Coupons.com, where you’ll find reviews and coupons
for leading online diet plans:
http://www.momscape.com/weight-watchers/ including
Medifast Coupons: http://www.momscape.com/medi.htm