January 24th, 2011 
admin If you are like the average person, you will gain about 1 pound every year. And most of that, 0.8 pounds, occurs between Thanksgiving and Christmas. You certainly enjoy the holiday festivities, but the amount and variety of food leads to temptation. Use the following diet tips, along with moderation and portion control, to keep off those extra pounds.
Denial Doesn’t Work – Moderation Does: When faced with the holiday excess, take a taste. Denying yourself everything will not work – you will be hungry and unhappy. And your host may be insulted, too. Instead, portion control is the key here. Just remember to keep those tastes small. Don’t pour on the gravy – put some on the side of your plate and lightly dunk. You don’t need to cut extra toppings and unhealthy foods out completely, just eat them moderately!
Go to Parties Full, by Drinking Water First: Have a drink of water before you leave for that holiday party. Studies show that this will help fill you up, and help keep you from overeating once you arrive. In addition, don’t skip meals – by eating small meals throughout the day you’ll always have food in your body. This virtually eliminates the feeling of hunger, which leads to eating less.
Take Your Time: Don’t race through your meals. Eating too quickly doesn’t give your stomach a chance to feel full, and you will definitely overindulge. Slowing down gives your brain time to realize you are full. Also, by slowing down you can really savor each tasty bite. You may find that it takes less to feel satisfied when you take food one bite at a time.
Hold Hands: It’s helpful to hold onto something with your dominant hand. Whether that something is a glass of water, or your loved-one’s hand, research says that you will be less likely to pick up something to eat if your hand is already busy.
Drink Smart: Most of us don’t consider the calories contained in drinks, whether alcoholic or simply sweet and sugary. That can be a big mistake. There are over 450 calories in a margarita. You might as well eat a McDonald’s Big Mac. And it’s not just alcoholic drinks that are a problem. A Starbuck’s Frappuccino can top 500 calories – that’s more than a slice of pepperoni pizza! You really have to watch your serving sizes and total calorie intake!
The holidays are a great time to celebrate and family dinners are always events we remember and cherish. Don’t let dieting and the worry of gaining weight stop you from enjoying all of the delectable dishes. Use moderation and practice portion control. Pay attention to your food and slow down.
And after the holidays, you can continue to practice moderation and portion control. One simple way is to use a portion control plate to help reinforce those new habits simply and easily. Give yourself a worthy gift – a healthy and lean body for the New Year!
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