Getting Through The Holidays On A Diet

Dieting is one of those tasks that no one wants to take on, but many people will end up doing. This seems more and more inevitable as each year draws to a close. As the holidays approach, stress levels rise and eating habits suffer. People are buying presents and attending parties. Others are attempting to use vacation days before the end of the year due to many employers' "use it or lose it" policy. Activities like this can all be fun. But they can also become a diet disaster if not handled properly.

Holiday shopping can prove stressful and increase your chances of unnecessary snacking. Taking time off work and being at home can lead to mindless eating, and holiday gatherings can have high calorie finger foods that fully satisfy your hunger. So how does one make it through the holidays while trying to diet?

There are some simple ways to enjoy the holidays without adding unwanted pounds to your body. You may even manage to lose some weight if you follow these easy steps.

- When shopping, start early to avoid stress and beat the crowds. The closer it gets to Christmas, the more people will be scrambling around looking for gifts and the slimmer your chances of finding the items you need.

- If you are enjoying vacation time, set a plan for yourself. Having nothing to do and snacking can be a major blow to those that are dieting. If you have certain things to do during your days off, you won't be tempted to snack on high calorie foods.

- If you plan to attend any holiday parties, take a healthy prepared dish with you. By bringing your own low calorie item, you'll know there is something at the party you can eat that is healthy. Also, take some time to research the nutrition information for some common party appetizers. This gives you an advantage when faced with the decision of what to fill your plate with.

- Another great way to eliminate overeating at a party is to have a light meal before you go. This assures that you're not ravenous when you arrive, and can make better choices regarding what to eat.

Some indulging during the holidays is all right, but if you're dieting, it is important to have a game plan.

- For Christmas, try to limit your high calorie foods to Christmas day only. A big problem for those trying to lose weight is that instead of Christmas being a one day event, it turns into a week long holiday feast with all the trimmings.

- Another helpful tip is listen to your body. During the holidays there are usually large spreads of food and people feel slighted if they don't taste some of everything. You can stay on your diet of choice and still lose weight if you focus on what you eat and how much. Dieting doesn't have to ruin your holiday season and the holidays don't have to sabotage your diet.

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