15 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Keep the holiday pounds off this season with these tricks.

ByABC News
November 19, 2013, 4:37 PM
Soda and other carbonated drinks can lead to belly bloat.
Soda and other carbonated drinks can lead to belly bloat.
Getty Images

Nov. 19, 2013— -- intro:Even if you have superhuman willpower, the holiday season is challenging for everyone. Staying on track can seem so daunting, you feel like swan-diving into the eggnog and sending your sensible routine into hibernation until the New Year. But, as we all know, excess pounds don't disappear along with the decorations. And nobody wants to start the new year in the hole, body-wise.

Turns out, there's no need to. "You can have fun without throwing away your healthy habits," says Elisa Zied, RD, author of Nutrition at Your Fingertips. Check out our 15 rules for a no-gain season. You can indulge and still wake up the same size (or less!) come New Year's Day.

16 Ways to Lose Weight Fast

quicklist: 1 category:15 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gaintitle:Weigh yourself twice a weekurl:text:That's often enough to make sure you stay on track, but not so often that you take all the fun out of holiday noshing, says Michael Dansinger, MD, an assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. Step on the scale first thing in the morning when your stomach is empty.

quicklist: 2 category:15 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gaintitle:Start your day with a bangurl:text:Exercising in the morning can help ensure better behavior all day long, according to a study published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

Using brain scans, researchers found that when women worked out in the a.m., they not only moved more the rest of the day, but they also responded less to pictures of tempting food compared with the days they didn't do a morning workout. The upshot: fewer cravings for high-fat fare.

Best Superfoods for Weight Loss

quicklist: 3 category:15 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gaintitle:Be picky, picky, pickyurl:text:Peruse the buffet before you load your plate to avoid foods you don't really want, suggests obesity expert Tim Church, MD, a professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University. If, for instance, you could take or leave sushi but adore sliders, don't start with the tuna rolls hoping to be able to resist the two-bite burger.

"If you pick the stuff you really want and have it in moderation," Dr. Church notes, "you'll stave off those cravings that can get you in trouble later on."

quicklist:4 category:15 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gaintitle:Just say no—everywhereurl:text:Willpower is like a muscle: Work it and you get stronger. What's key is to practice keeping yourself in check in non-food situations, too. "Whether you're driving in rush hour traffic or dealing with a temperamental kid, there are challenges that require self-control," Dr. Dansinger says.

Succeed in not honking at that rude driver, he explains, and you'll be better able to resist dessert at the party.

The Secrets to Avoiding Mindless Eating and Staying Slim

quicklist:5 category:15 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gaintitle:Avoid banking caloriesurl:text:Cutting back all day so you can indulge at an event that night only sets you up for a pig-out.

Why? You're freaking starving! "It's easy to get out of control when you're faced with high-calorie choices," says Tanya Zuckerbrot, RD, author of The Miracle Carb Diet.

Be sure to eat your three squares and a couple of snacks. Aim for lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean protein.