How to Stick to Your Diet During the Holidays

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Whether you're trying to lose weight, or simply maintain your current weight, the holiday season can present a particular challenge. With all of the tempting and fattening foods being passed around, it can prove a challenge to keep eating healthily during the holiday season. These simple tips will help you stick to your eating plan during the holiday party season.

Edit Steps1Focus on the people, not the food. Remember that holiday parties and social functions are meant to be times to get together with loved ones. Get in the spirit of the holiday season by celebrating your personal relationships, and recognize that you're not just there for the food.

2Make the occasional party the exception to your diet, not the rule. Splurging once in a while is not generally a major problem, as long as you get back to your diet the next day. Don't let one or two holiday events be the excuse for falling off the wagon till New Year's.

3Consider volunteering to host the party yourself. There's no better way to ensure that there will be diet-friendly, healthy choices on the menu than by throwing the party yourself. If someone else is hosting the party, offer to bring food to the party so that you can be sure that there are food options that fit into your diet program. At least there will be one dish on the buffet that you can enjoy without worrying about the calorie count.

4Prepare so you don't arrive at a holiday party on an empty stomach. Have a light, healthy snack shortly before leaving for the party. Choose protein-rich foods, such as low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese, as the protein will stick with you and help you feel full longer. Alternatively, eat a small green salad as the fiber will also fill you up; another good choice is to boil a sweetcorn cob. By taking the edge off your hunger, you can approach the buffet table with control and be less likely to make impulsive choices at the party.

Never skip the meal before a party. You'll arrive ravenous and vulnerable to overeating.If you cannot eat something before arriving at the party, ask the host or hostess for a large glass of water as soon as you arrive.5Choose wisely from the foods available at holiday functions. If you look carefully, you'll find there are often acceptable healthy choices available to you. Concentrate on the cocktail shrimp, smoked salmon, and fresh fruit, salads or vegetable platters. Go easy on the accompanying sauces and dips. Raw mixed nuts, particularly almonds, are good sources of protein, but be wary of candied nuts or extremely salty nut mixes.

Fill your (small) plate once only. By controlling the amount you eat at festive parties and not grazing through all the snacks, you'll avoid weight gain.Never eat food you don't love. You'll need to say "no" sometimes but that's good for you too––being manipulated into making food choices is no longer an option for you.Try new foods and skip the same old food you could easily have at home. Give your taste buds a treat while avoiding overeating anything that is standard fare.6Eat slowly and mindfully. It takes our body about 20 minutes to realize that we are full. Also, the more slowly you eat, the less food you'll eat as opposed to eating fast in the same amount of time. As you eat, appreciate the food and acknowledge how it tastes––mindful eating is a way to slow down the process of gulping down food.

Wait your turn. Never be in a rush to reach the food table. Chat with guests and slowly make your way toward the food.7Drink responsibly. Consider sparkling mineral water or non-alcoholic drinks, such as a "virgin Mary." If you decide to drink alcohol, choose white or red wine, rather than champagne or hard liquor. Intersperse all alcoholic drinks with water, and you can even use sparkling water added to water down alcohol. Bear in mind that alcohol can take away your willpower to resist overeating.

Steer clear of the soda, too. It's very high in sugar.Fill your glass with ice, taking away the space for too much alcohol.If you have control over the party, don't tie celebrating to drinking and eating. Stick to non-alcoholic drinks and try to include some activity to keep everyone active, such as Christmas games, a trip to a local indoor sports center or, if you're in a warmer climate, a game of football or cricket outdoors.8Stay active during the holidays. Mingle, dance and do what you can to stay active (and as far away from the buffet table as possible). Keep your metabolism up by staying active and including lots of healthy exercise during the holiday season.

Simply by taking a 30 minute walk each day, you can help keep the weight off. Find those 30 minutes somewhere during the day, even if it means borrowing Fido from the neighbors, and give your body the exercise it deserves.9Be careful of leftovers. Don't eat a lot of calorie-laden food for days after a special event just because the food needs to be eaten up. Portion all treat food leftovers in small amounts and ensure that everyone is sharing it, so that you're not tempted to finish off the remaining half of a cheesecake or crackling by yourself.

Never use the excuse "it'll go to waste if I don't eat it". That is why you have a) a freezer, b) friends and family over for "leftover surprise meals" and c) a compost bin. Bundle up leftovers for freezing––ham, turkey, pudding and other items can all be frozen without damage.10Reward yourself. It's the holiday season, so general deprivation is not the way to go. Simply shift rewards from food to activities, like going to the cinema, going ice-skating, visiting friends, or buying yourself a new CD. By moving the focus off food and onto doing fun things, you'll continue to enjoy the spirit of the season and stick with your diet.

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Edit TipsDrink a glass of water (iced water can be even more effective) before dinner.Consider wearing tight-ish clothing to your holiday parties. Keeping a belt or waistband cinched tight will help you feel fuller faster, and remind you to not stuff yourself.If you want to try out a number of dishes, take small portions of the food selections, instead of full-sized portions of everything. This way, you can still get to enjoy the food without having to consume too many calories.Above all relax. Prepare yourself mentally: see yourself eating slowly and savoring your food. You can acquire this habit and keep it for the rest of your life, not only during the holidays.Try the 3-bite method (a branch of mindful eating). Take a small portion of the desired treat. Before you jump in and swallow it without a thought, take a good look at it and tell yourself, "I get three bites!" After the first bite, think, "Wow, that was great and I'm not even through!" Then take the second bite while telling yourself, "I'm only halfway through. This is delicious!" Then get ready for the third bite and think, "I'm really going to enjoy this. It's my last bite, but this food isn't leaving the planet anytime soon, so I can have three bites again next year!"

Edit WarningsIf you resort to wearing tight clothing to discourage yourself, be careful. You may end up harming your digestive system if you're wearing a tight belt or underpants that are placing pressure on your abdomen. It's better to eat sensibly than to curtail your breathing and digestive processes.Eating slowly gives time to your brain to get the signal that you're satiated and drinking water will help you feel full (We need to trigger those two sensors); however, do not drink too much water before dinner or you will dilute the acids in your stomach that you need for digesting your food.Eating too much sometimes hides complicated issues, such as poor self control, inability to say no to other people, and a general lack of respect for yourself. It might be a good time to buff up your self-esteem and self-respect if you have been neglecting these lately.

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Edit Related wikiHowsHow to Eat Slowly to Avoid OvereatingHow to Manage Christmas Day LunchHow to Hide That You Are on a DietHow to Eat Sensibly at a Social EventHow to Eat Healthy During the HolidaysArticle Info Featured Article

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