Wednesday, November 2, 2011

How to Avoid Unhealthy Weight Gain This Holiday Season

It is important to set a limit on how calories if you are trying to lose weight. That means cutting back or cutting out foods that are high in fats and sugar.

You don’t have to count calories, although it is a good idea to do so. This will allow you to learn where most of the calories in your diet are coming from. Having this knowledge will allow you to make better choices at home and when dining out.

If you don’t know how many calories are in the foods you eat, you are likely to overeat and become frustrated when you don’t lose weight. On the other hand, if you know that you have consumed excess calories, you can avoid gaining too much weight by taking immediate steps to burn the excess calories. That means getting up and getting exercising more. Better yet, just don't overeat.

As you know, the holidays can be rather stressful and stress itself can lead to weight gain. Two common causes of weight gain during stress are increased production of cortisol, the stress hormone, and depression, which could lead to overeating.

With the holidays upon us, you need to have a plan to counteract the challenges that the holidays bring. Stress, depression, office parties, and an abundance of food, drink and sweets at this time can really make it difficult to control your weight. But if you have a plan, you can beat the odds.

 A good place to start is by creating a plan. You can find lots of useful articles on this blog as well as at www.dailydietguide.com, and at www.eatright.org. The U.S. Department of Agriculture website and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also provide practical information for diet planning and weight loss. In addition, a registered dietitian can help you devise a diet and weight loss or weight management program that is just right for you. 

Don't wait until you've started packing on the pounds this holiday season. Get started on a healthy weight management program now.