The holiday season can be stressful enough without having to worry about weight gain. There are a couple of easy steps you can take to avoid gaining weight during the holidays.  If you are being invited to several holiday parties, don’t feel like you have to stuff yourself with all the food that is available, just pick a few special foods to sample.  Use a little common sense and put your focus on maintaining a balance of physical activity and food intake.  Physical activity will not only allow you to avoid gaining weight during the holidays but it will also reduce your stress level.

 
Try to plan holiday celebrations around physical activities like sledding or skiing if you are going to be in an area with snow or a picnic at the park if you are in a warmer climate.  After dinner, walk around and look at the holiday lights instead of driving around in your car.  Try to schedule some physical activity every day during the holidays and you’ll not only avoid gaining weight but you also might lose some weight.

Drinking a large glass of water before you eat will trick your body into thinking it is already full and you’ll actually eat less.  Don’t stand near the table where all the food is located because you are more tempted to sample if the food is right in front of you.  Instead, place your food on a plate and find a place to sit down.  You’ll eat less than you would standing at the buffet and sampling.

If you are going to spend a great deal of time in the kitchen cooking, consider modifying your existing recipes to reduce the fat and sugar that is traditionally in holiday recipes.  Or instead of making homemade cookies and candy to give as gifts, give fresh fruits and nuts as a healthier alternative.  You could get really creative and design edible baskets containing fruits and vegetables to be given as gifts.

By incorporating physical activity into your daily schedule and modifying your eating habits, you can avoid gaining weight during the holidays.