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10 Tips for Maintaining Weight Loss During the Holidays

Keep your diet on track while indulging in the season

By Elizabeth Weiss McGolerick

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It's that time of year – the holidays have arrived to tempt you with goodies and threaten to smash your diet to pieces. And that leads to New Year's resolutions that just seem impossible to keep. Here's how to break the vicious cycle.

Weight loss during the holidays is kind of an oxymoron. Cookies, eggnog, parties, family dinners – they're all a recipe for surefire weight gain. However, there are ways to maintain your weight loss diet throughout the holidays that will still allow you to enjoy the tastes of the season without depriving you of any joy.

Here are 10 tips from Misti Gueron, MS, RD, a medical nutrition therapist with The Khalili Center for Bariatric Care, to help you stay on track.

Go for H2O. Drink at least 8 ounces of water every hour – you'll feel full faster and combat those tricky sweet cravings.
Stick with the plan. Create a food plan for each day (especially on the days you know you'll be attending a celebration with food – and lots of it). Also, eating at regular meal times will help you avoid unnecessary grazing.
Chip in, without chips. Headed to a pot-luck party? Make your contribution a colorful vegetable tray – if you find yourself munching, make sure it's vegetables.
Feed yourself. Don't starve yourself before a big event so you can treat yourself later. This is actually counterproductive to your diet – skipping meals slows your metabolism. Plus, your end-of-day hunger may cause you to overeat.
Nosh on high-protein goodies. Eating a snack high in protein before your party will help fill you up. And, a well-nourished mind makes better food decisions!
Speak up. Know you're going to dig into those double-fudge brownies with gusto? Don't be shy about asking your host what food will be served so you can plan accordingly.
BYOB (Bring Your Own Bounty). Even if you're not headed to a covered dish type of get-together, offer to bring a salad or a few healthy side dishes. This way, you're certain to have something available that is on your diet and you know you'll enjoy.
Go virgin. Toast most celebrations with a nonalcoholic beverage – this will preserve your motivation for healthy eating and your waistline will thank you!
Allow yourself small indulgences. It is the holidays after all – no one says you have to completely avoid a second helping of stuffing or a tray of delectable desserts. Plan those small indulgences in advance so you don't feel deprived the whole holiday season and your waistline won't notice the occasional treat.
Forgive yourself. If you slip on your diet, just get right back on it the next day. Don't beat yourself up by continuing to eat poorly – bingeing will only make you more miserable, both physically and mentally!

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