Avoid Holiday Overeating

Why do we tend to eat past the point of satiation during this time of year? Here are more tips from our expert.

4. Know Your Limits:
Fats are fattening -- so eat nuts one at a time, eliminate some crusts on pies, and limit how much you drink eggnog. Begin with slivers of appealing deserts, and go back for more if you want. But don't hoard everything onto one plate.

5. Be Active:
Continue to exercise by adapting to the season. Dress in layers with a hat, remembering that outdoor activity warms you up quickly. Try a family activity or work out inside, run up and down stairs, or sneak away to the gym, even for 20 minutes!

6. Compensate:
Minimize calories throughout the day or week by having low calorie nutrition bars or a glass of a low calorie nutritional drink. Doing this before going to events can help you avoid being ravenous and maximize control of your hunger.

7. Find Support:
Holiday stress is as common as holiday blues. The holidays can emphasize feelings of isolation and loneliness -- which can cause us to eat to deal with the pain -- and leads to fattening results. Try to become your own best friend by soothing yourself with kind words, instead of beating yourself up for not meeting increased demands. Or find support from friends or express your emotions through journal writing.

Remember, deprivation as well as over-indulgence can sabotage any reasonable plan, so enjoy responsibly. Happy Holidays!

Abby Aronowitz, Ph.D., is the author of "Your Final Diet." She is a certified clinical psychologist, weight management coach and motivational speaker.

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