How to Not Gain Weight During the Holidays

The holidays are always a challenge. For most of us, an increased focus on eating, drinking, and relaxation almost always leads to a few extra pounds and inches. Make up your mind that this year, the results will be better. It's very easy, with all the excitement and partying to forget just how much you're eating. It's just as easy to put off exercise until after New Years Day.

Here are a few Simple and Easy To Follow Tips that can make this year better. You can maintain your weight and feel much better in the process.

BE AWARE OF INCREASED CALORIE INTAKE
During the holidays, frequent opportunities arise to eat at times at times when we don't normally eat. Our bodies are just not used to dealing with this obstacle.

It's generally believed that "before and after dinner foods", increased portion size, drinks and desserts, will lead the average person to consume up to double their usual calorie intake. That spells trouble.

CONCENTRATE ON THE POSITIVE, NOT THE NEGATIVE
Try to increase your concentration on what you CAN do, not what you Can't.
Depriving yourself of food and drink just doesn't work. It's unenjoyable and a chore. Human nature always rebels against things that are unenjoyable.

GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO INDULGE. SIMPLY MAKE IT IN SMALLER AMOUNTS
You can still have the pumpkin pies (take a smaller portion), the eggnog (one instead of two, two instead of four), a small second helping of dinner instead of the second and third helping. People who have tried these ideas report that it took a little "getting used to" at first, but now consider it to be second nature.

ANY FOOD IS OK TO EAT IF YOU CAN BURN OFF THE CALORIES
All food are made up of something called calories. If you take in more than you burn up, you will gain weight. Unfortunately during the holidays, most of the food choices are high in calories.
This holiday season. JUST DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. As I said earlier, concentrate on the POSITIVE (the things you can do), not the NEGATIVE (the things you shouldn't)

HOW TO BURN OFF ENOUGH CALORIES
Countless ways exist to increase calorie burn.
Let's ignore most of them today. If you're ready to change your life's exercise, fitness, and health goals, that's great. For THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, let's just try one simple idea. It works. WALK MORE!

It's a generally accepted fact that walking is great exercise. It can burn just as many calories as running, biking, rowing, or mountain climbing. Walking just takes a longer amount of time. The last statement may seem like a joke. It's not meant to be. How many average people have the ability or desire to participate in running, biking, etc?

ABOUT WALKING AND METABOLISM
Metabolism is the rate at which your body burns fuel (calories). If you don't exercise much, your body's metabolism slows down. (Your body's way to help you survive)
Walking will increase your metabolism, helping to burn off calories more quickly.
Walking will increase your metabolism, even after you've stopped walking. (A known fact. Check it out.) Increased muscle size will increase your metabolism. Your legs are your largest muscles. Walking is good for your legs. (Hello. Walking is a good thing.)

WALKING MORE CAN HELP YOU NOT GAIN WEIGHT DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Here's a couple of ideas;
Try to walk around the block. If that's too far, how about to the garage and back. Or across the living room, or walk in-place. Don't think of it as a chore. Then you probably won't continue to do it.
Take the stairs once in while if you can.
Park a little further way at the grocery store. Try to get out of the habit of parking as close as you can.
Try to walk outside for 1, 5 or 10 minutes a day. Don't worry about "increasing your time" by a "certain number of minutes each day", a method often preached by fitness professionals. Just feel good that you are doing something as opposed to nothing.

Have a Happy Holiday Season!