Get Fit: Holiday Weight Gain, Just Don’t Do It

A few chocolate chip cookies here, a few glasses of egg nog there, before you know it your pants are tight and you think, "I’ve already done the damage, might as well keep indulging."

Not so fast.

The experts will tell you, your first defense should be to maintain your weight, or else it might be difficult to bounce back going into 2012. The Christmas and New Year’s parties are plentiful, so now the question is, how do you just ignore the sugar plums dancing in your head, and the delectable desserts staring you in the face?

Never fear. Registered dietician atNutrition Center Lynn W. Nichols is here to help. Nichols says there are some basic rules to follow to ward off the weight gain.

Nichols’ advice overall is to plan, plan, plan.

"The key to any event at any time is planning. This will help you enjoy the season without fear of over-indulging," she says.

Pick and Choose

She says if the party is served buffet style, look over all the selections before getting into line.

"When it is your turn, you will have already decided what you want to have. Only make one trip to the table," says Nichols. "Only take those foods you really want. If you can have mashed potatoes any day at home, avoid them and choose the foods which you only eat once a year."

Spread Out the Treats

"It’s not practical to avoid all of your holiday favorites. The key is choose small portions of those you can’t resist. If you’re going to more than one party during the season, spread out your favorites amongst the parties," she says.

Pay Attention

"It is very important to always pay attention to what and how much you are eating. Choose wisely and eat slowly in order to savor every bite. Be mindful and enjoy," says Nichols.

Swap Out High-Fat Foods

Nichols points out there are easy, healthier appetizer and meal solutions.

"There are plenty of great alternatives to the high-fat cheeses, greasy chips and snacks," she says. "Try a variety of hummus dips with fresh vegetables, or try fresh salsa as a great alternative to heavy dips. Grilled chicken, baked chips, and fresh fruit are also popular finger foods."

Don’t Go Hungry

"Eat a small, healthy snack before going to a party. This will help prevent you from overeating. You want to be able to choose your foods because you like them, not because you are starving," says Nichols.

Focus on Family and Friends

"It’s not all about the food. It should be more about friends, family and being thankful for what we have. Instead of filling up on food, fill up on friendship. Plan a non-food get together, like an ice skating party, walk through a local park or garden, or a walking tour," she says.

Keep Moving

"Exercise is important all year round. Unfortunately it’s one of the first things to go when we get overwhelmed with the holidays. This shouldn’t need to happen. It’s OK to shorten a workout if you need to, but don’t give them up,” says Nichols. "Plan your exercise activities on your calendar just like you do other important events."

Check out last month’s for ideas how to incorporate exercise during this busy time of year.