With the holiday season in full swing, people are challenged with extra calories and temptation at every turn. Health and wellness bloghers have a myriad of tips for keeping ahead of the holiday pounds:


RN Laurie White offers ways to curb the average seven-pound weight gain:

1. Eat a low calorie and low fat breakfast and lunch on the holiday to conserve some calories for the big feast. Don't skip meals however, because you'll be very hungry and then it's really hard not to over eat.

2. Put small portions of the heavy calorie things on your pre-dinner snack plate: vegetable spreads (they are usually held together with oil or mayo), cheese, and dips are some examples. Most of us eat without thinking, especially while socializing, so put a lot of lower calorie items on the plate as well, such as raw fruits and vegetables and whole-grain crackers. That way you won't consume a ton of calories but you'll still be nibbling like everyone else and won't feel out of place.

3. A snack of veggies, fruit and whole-grain items can also have a lot of fiber in it; this will help you to feel full and tends to control eating when you sit down to the full meal.

Using different tactics, Jennifer Scott has hints for becoming triumphant in the battle of the bulge:

-Be a picky eater.
We all have particular foods that we love and others that we may eat simply because they're there. Remember, whatever diet you're on, you have a "budget" of fat, calories, carbs, etc. Watch your "spending" habits and only choose the foods you really want. Mindlessly munching on potato chips isn't nearly as satisfying as allowing yourself a small slice of Aunt Edna's apple pie, right? Don't beat yourself up about eating something that is normally out of the question. Enjoy it! As long as you keep your portions under control, there's no reason you can't treat yourself to your favorite goodies.

However, be sure to remind yourself that the holidays aren't a license to overindulge. Make sure you remember that old adage of "All things in moderation." when you're tempted to binge. When you reach for seconds, ask yourself if you are really still hungry. Chances are you'll realize it's just force of habit (Or force of Aunt Edna offering "Just on more slice, honey?"!). Say no to yourself and politely decline the offer, and you'll be very proud of yourself for staying in control.

-Go "veggie" for a day.
Many families have vegetarians or vegans in their midst these days. Chances are your hosts will have prepared a special dish or two just for those non-carnivores in the crowd. Take advantage of the healthier fruit and vegetable-based fare. Why not try those veggie buffalo wings, the eggplant casserole or a mushroom burger? While not all vegetarian dishes are low-fat or low-calorie, they're still a very healthy option, as they will provide you with the extra nutrients that you might not have gotten eating meat and carb-based foods. Plus, this is a great time to try a new vegetable or discover a dish you may not have tried otherwise. You just might find yourself asking for the recipe before you leave. Maybe you'll even decide to go "veggie" for good!

And finally, Stephanie, the author of Back In Skinny Jeans, has been busy created a multi-part holiday weight loss video log:

I thought the videos would be a fun community way to help each other to not go crazy and gain enough weight over the holidays to make the muffin top bigger than it already is. Also, admittedly, I am partly doing this for shameless reasons too. I am sooooo close to my weight loss goal of 25 pounds adios that I thought these holiday tips videos would also help me and others like me stay focused during this tough weighty time of year.

In the first video, I talk about just how much the Average American gains over the holidays, and the 3 reasons why along with how easy it is to gain over a pound a week. I also go into details about the emotional influence the holidays has over our eating and drinking. Some of that holiday weight gain can also be tied to calorie loaded alcoholic drinks. If we help each other out, I think we can all get through the holidays having fun, being healthy, and in no need of a straight jacket ;-)

The first part of the video log can be seen here at YouTube.