Healthy Living for the Holidays

Holiday gatherings and unhealthy habits go hand in hand—that’s why most people gain about a pound between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

Stay healthy this holiday season by asking your doctor about a good weight and calorie plan for your height, build, and age. Then help yourself to stick to that plan, even during this festive time, with the following tips:

• To help keep cravings at bay, eat a small amount of your favorite foods occasionally.
• Find “sneaky” ways to get exercise. Use the stairs, park your car a block or two away, or take dance lessons.
• Watch for triggers that cause you to overeat, such as being lonely, sad, bored, or stressed.
• If you’re going to a party, choose small, low-calorie meals earlier in the day. This will balance out the calories you’ll eat at the party. Eat a piece of fruit before the party to fill you up.
• If you drink alcohol, have only one alcoholic drink if you’re a woman, two drinks if you’re a man. Then switch to diet soda or water. Alcohol is high in calories.
• When you’re resolving to lose some weight, set small, specific goals for yourself. Instead of saying, “I’m going to lose 20 pounds,” decide that you’ll be more active every other day of the week.