The Holidays are approaching fast, along with all the temptations to stuff your face with high calorie sweets. Everyone enjoys the annual feast of food, but it comes with a price. Those extra pounds don’t just disappear into the new year (along with your resolutions), and unless you have extreme willpower, it’s very difficult to stay on track and avoid all the eggnog and potatoes. But, it is not impossible. These tips should help you stay on track and avoid the holiday weight gain.

1) Drink water

Before you sit down at the long dining room table and fall victim to the gravy boat, drink eight ounces of water.  Drinking water before a meal fills up your stomach, and will force you to eat in controlled amounts. It also promotes good digestive health. Substituting water instead of a sugary festive beverage will also cut down the amount of calories you consume.

2) Be active

This should already be a part of your life regardless of the attempt to get the extra holiday calories out. Try to exercise in the morning so you are not tired and struggling to get through it. Working out will also make you more aware of what you eat later in the day. To make it fun, blast some holiday jams! 

3) Eat in moderation

Your favorite holiday foods only come around once a year! Staying fit during the holiday doesn’t mean depriving and starving yourself of a little sweet treat. Enjoy them, but in moderation. Take only a single serving of your favorite dessert rather than mindlessly eating without realizing how much you are having. Try the “one a day rule”. When you are constantly being bombarded with annual sweets and holiday candies, you don’t have to torture yourself by constantly denying them! Just limit how much you take in. For example, only have one cookie or only one cup of eggnog a day during the sugar coated days of the holiday season.

4) Eat slowly

It may seem impossible to do this when the appetizer options are endless but try to pace yourself while eating. It takes your body around ten minutes to tell your brain when it has had enough to eat. Take time to savor each bite of the annual turkey and pies! When you eat too fast, your body doesn’t have enough time to register fullness. It can also leave you feeling bloated and tired later on.

5) Out of sight, out of mind

Try to eat your food restaurant style. Meaning, don’t have the mashed potato mountain staring you down while you eat. Take moderate portions of  food from the kitchen then take it to the table to eat. When you’ve cleared your plate, remember to take a breather and if you really want seconds, shoot for something high in fiber and take a small portion to ensure fullness. To deal with the delicious leftovers, try freezing them! You are less likely to eat the food when it is out of sight and out of mind.

It’s very easy to get caught up in the frenzy of Holiday fun. You find yourself eating more and exercising less. Controlling your weight should not take over your Holiday season. Go ahead and celebrate but make a commitment to keep limits, moderation, and balance in mind!