Simple Holiday Stay-Slim Tips

If you're not careful, the stretch between Thanksgiving and New Year's can spell disaster for your diet. Research shows that people tend to gain an average of one pound during this time—not a ton of weight, but the catch is, most never lose it. Here, Colette Heimowitz, vice president of nutrition and education for Atkins Nutritionals, shares six ways to survive the holidays without sabotaging yourself.  

Plan Ahead
Holiday parties can be a hotbed of temptation—never show up hungry! Before heading out to a holiday party, make sure you have a small protein filled snack like nuts, beef or turkey slices or a hard-boiled egg so that you are more likely to survive the run-in with sweet desserts. 
 

Plan a Guilt-Free Event
By hosting your own party, you have total control over the menu and activities. For example, focus on something other than food by starting some new traditions with your family that involve quality time together. Ideas include a family game night, a family movie night, or helping out at a local homeless shelter and giving back to the community.
 

Give Your New Year's Resolution a Trial Run
Have a weight-loss plan and start it before the holidays. Plan your meals for each week and make sure you have plenty of healthy protein snacks on hand that are filling to help combat any cravings. If you always have your next meal planned, you will be less likely to fall prey to tempting treats.
 

Stay Active
Whether scrambling to meet those last-minute holiday deadlines or stressing about family gatherings, always make sure you maintain your energy by keeping up your activity level. Take a walk after dinner, join the kids in a snowball fight, take the stairs instead of the elevator and park farther away from your destination when you’re shopping. If you belong to a gym, keep up with your workouts there. Get an exercise DVD for the days you can’t make it to the gym.
 

Keep Journaling
Write down everything that you eat. Monitoring your eating and drinking habits should help you stay on track by helping you see exactly what you are putting in your mouth.
 

Be the Designated Driver
We sometimes forget how drinking liquor can be just as bad as eating an indulgent, sweet dessert. Order seltzer or club soda with a lemon or lime. It looks like an alcoholic drink but has far fewer calories and carbs than the real deal. 

Eat Your Favorite Foods and Still Lose Weight