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Getting Through the Holidays Pound Free

The Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone. And even though you may have had the best of intentions, you may be feeling like you really blew it. If you’re feeling discouraged, don’t throw in the towel now. The holidays can be a difficult time for everyone – you’re not alone. In addition to all of the tempting food, you may feel rushed and stressed. Such feelings can lead to overeating and a less than desirable diet. And, you may feel like exercise is just one more thing that should get done, but you don’t have time for it. If you can identify with one or all of these feelings, check out the strategies below to help you get through the holidays pound free.

Change your mentality. Instead of focusing on weight loss, focus on weight maintenance. You may have too much going on and too many tempting parties, holiday engagements, etc., to focus on weight loss. So instead, focus on maintaining your current weight. Remember, if you maintain your weight through the holidays you’re still ahead of the game. Most people gain weight over the holidays and never lose it!

Make time for exercise. Although it may see like one more thing to do, you’ve got to make time for it. Not only will exercise help control your weight by burning calories, but it also aids in reducing stress and contributes to overall better health. Since your normal schedule may be a little off during the holidays, try exercising in the morning. By exercising in the morning, you don’t have to worry if something comes up at the end of the day.

Find more activity in your day. Even if you can’t fit a full thirty minutes of activity in at the beginning of the day (or even if you can) find ways to add more activity to your day. When you go to the mall, park farther away (the same goes for the grocery store) or park at the opposite end of the mall. This way you’ll have to walk all the way through the mall to get to the store you need to go visit. Use the stairs rather than the escalator. Talking to friends and loved ones on the phone? Walk while you talk – you’ll burn more calories. When making your holiday dishes, do things by hand. For example, don’t use the electric can opener or food processor. Instead, use a handheld can opener and chop your own veggies and nuts. Also, consider wrapping your own gifts instead of paying one of the department stores. If you find yourself at the fast food joint, park and walk inside instead of using the drive-thru.

Snack, snack, snack. If you have a tendency to run around picking up kids, running errands, going to parties, etc., it’s easy to forget to eat. However, doing so, doesn’t help – in fact it actually works against you. By the end of the day you’ll find yourself famished and want to eat everything in site. Instead, keep healthful, “on the go” snacks on hand such as apples, bananas, dried nuts (watch portion sizes), low-fat string cheese, pre-made smoothies (again watch the fat and calories), etc.

Plan ahead and have a strategy. Although it can be difficult, do your best to plan ahead. For example if you will be attending a party during the evening, don’t wait to eat your evening meal at the party. Instead have a snack before you go. And, when you do arrive don’t spend your entire time hovering around the food table. Find what you like, take a sample and then spend the rest of the evening with friends and family.

Watch your alcohol intake. We all love to have a glass of wine, eggnog, spiced rum or other festive drink during the holidays. However, remember that alcoholic beverages contain calories, so be sure to account for those calories. And, drinking alcohol can lower your inhibitions and lessen your willpower.

Remember, CaloriesCount.com is here to help you through the holiday season and beyond. And, don’t be too hard on yourself. If you do overeat or have a bad day (or a few bad days), just get back on track. You can always start fresh again. The key is to not throw in the towel. By doing so, you may find yourself in worse shape when January 1 rolls around.