Holiday Weight Loss Tips How to Lose Weight Before You Gain It

Before you know it, the holiday season will be here and, unfortunately for many people, so will the extra holiday weight--you know, that inevitable 10-15 pounds you gain every year between November and January. However, with a little planning, you can take a different approach. Why not try to lose a little weight before the holidays? That way, if you do gain a few pounds, you won't care as much. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Start a regular exercise program now.

By starting now, you will already be in the habit of working out by the time the holidays roll around. Research suggests that It only takes 21 days to form a new habit. So you have much better odds of continuing to exercise during the holiday season by getting a head start now. Exercising on a regular basis increases the muscle content in your body, and muscle burns more calories than fat. So, eating a few extra calories over the holidays won't cause you to gain as much weight if you're already exercising regularly.

If you enjoy working out at the gym, see if you can have a personal trainer help you design a good workout program. And, if you're not a gym person, set up your own regular exercise program that you do at home. Even just taking regular daily walks can be a big help when you're trying to keep from gaining weight.

2. Make a few immediate changes in your eating habits.

These don't have to be major changes. Just find something that you can do consistently without feeling overly deprived--something that will benefit your health and help you lose weight. For example, you might decide that you will not eat after 8:00 p.m. every night. Many experts say that the less you eat in the hours immediately before you go to bed the less weight you gain. By ingraining this habit into your lifestyle, you will do better during the holiday season. You will be used to eating less after a certain time at night so you will not feel comfortable breaking your habit and, therefore, you will be less likely to gain as much weight.

3. Buy yourself a new holiday outfit now or else promise yourself a new one when you have achieved a particular weight loss goal.

By rewarding yourself in advance, you will be more likely to avoid some of the extra food and drink during the actual holiday season. After all your hard work, you will want to be able to show off your figure in that new outfit. This will make it easier for you to eat less of those holiday goodies.

4. If you traditionally attend many parties at work or at other people's homes--and you normally bring a food item--find a new special recipe or item to bring with you.

Take one of your favorite recipes and find ways to make it less fattening. Experiment with healthier recipes. Find new ways to enjoy food without endangering your health or your weight. If appropriate, consider bringing a nice scented candle or flower arrangement--something that everyone can enjoy without any risk of gaining weight.

Realize that the holidays are a time that we typically celebrate with special foods and drinks. Find a way to make a few changes in advance so that you don't gain too much extra weight while enjoying your particular traditions. Then look forward to enjoying your holidays while feeling good about yourself at the same time.


By Jenny Evans Dunham