Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain
By paigea
@paigea (35817)
Canada
December 21, 2015 10:04am CST
Thanksgiving, Christmas baking, Christmas work parties, Get togethers with friends during the Christmas season, Christmas day with the family. More Christmas visits right up until New Years and then the New Years party. These are the particular holidays that challenge my weight and health.
Eating properly at the actual holiday dinners is not too difficult for me. I don't like to feel stuffed so I don't overeat all at once. It's hard when I have to visit more than one dinner in the same day. Two full meals in a day just add up to too much. I have to really think about what I put on my plate then. I will take a small amount of the things I really want to enjoy and I will pass on the rest. My goal is to feel a little bit hungry when I leave.
One thing I learned is to leave some food on my plate. This goes against my nature of waste not want not, but it lets me turn down all offers of more by saying. "No, I am full and can't finish what I have." Once I have made that announcement there is no way I make a liar of myself and eat more!
A big problem for me is the baking. I am alone and even though I tell myself I have had enough "tastes" it doesn't keep me from tasting more. I have to have a meal planned for the day I am baking. Like soup in the slowcooker or already made the day before. I cut up apple or orange slices, or vegetables to snack on while I work.
Another problem for me is eating while shopping. I don't live near any shops so shopping tends to be done in long sessions. This is a year round situation for me. I have learned to bring an apple or a banana and water. This stops me from deciding I deserve a burger or fries while shopping. I treat myself to a non fat latte if I really want a treat. Just like the baking days, I make sure a proper meal is planned for when I get home. I don't want any temptations to pick up pizza on the way home.
My other strategy is to step up the exercise at the beginning of December. If I am walking, I am not eating. When I come in I treat myself to some spiced tea instead of hot chocolate.
Years ago I used to gain weight through the holiday season but several years ago, using these few strategies, I put a stop to that.
Now to figure out how to avoid weight gain during the barbecue season.
42 people like this
44 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
21 Dec 15
We don't eat any more (or less) during holidays than at any other time of the year...we just eat different foods.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
21 Dec 15
@paigea Since it's just us for holidays we don't fix an outrageous amount of food, we don't have to.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Dec 15
These are all good strategies, because they work for you. For me it is simple, portion control.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
31 Dec 15
@paigea This makes sense. One small plate and then nothing.
2 people like this
@paigea (35817)
• Canada
30 Dec 15
Portion control works perfectly for me while at the actual dinner or buffet. I can't stand feeling stuffed. But, when stuff is put out at an all day family gathering those little mouthfuls add up through out the day. So, I had to train myself to use portion control in those situations.
2 people like this
@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
22 Dec 15
These are good tips for not gaining weight during the festive season.
I don't worry about gaining weight yet, as most of the time I eat at home. Moreover, by taking care of two young children at home, I guess I have good ways to burn the energy. 
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
27 Dec 15
@Hatley My grandfather has diabetes, and I could tell how troublesome and uncomfortable it was when I was still young, and it caused complications as well. Hence I tried to cut down the sugar intake, I was afraid my sugar level would be high as I heard diabetes can be inherited. 
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
22 Dec 15
lol Yes there are several times of the year that are very centered on food. I am more of a picker so that is what I need to watch out for..
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
22 Dec 15
@paigea I try not to leave things around that will tempt me.
1 person likes this
@paigea (35817)
• Canada
23 Dec 15
@BelleStarr Me too. This year I've barely done any baking. That has helped.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Dec 15
I just try not to worry about it and enjoy myself and eat what I want during the holidays. I worry about the weight gain later lol.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Dec 15
@paigea Most men can it seems.
2 people like this
@antonbunot (11092)
• Calgary, Alberta
23 Dec 15
This is the only time that I eat a lot! And, though I am vegetarian for the last couple of years, I am going to eat beef steak!
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38723)
• Midland, Michigan
27 Dec 15
I have to watch the sweets and chips that I eat most nights after work. It has nothing to do with the season at all. Some weeks I do fine and leave it all alone while other days it seems that I need to find something else. Days that I work I have less of a problem, sometimes, but not always. If i start gaining again, I hope to notice and stop all extraneous eating.
1 person likes this
@KnehKnah (3584)
• Philippines
23 Dec 15
Gosh! Now you remind me of lots of family gatherings for breakfast, lunch & dinner tomorrow. It will be followed by a Noche Buena after a gift-giving & a simple program. In between, there are the coffee, soda, cakes, chocolates, pizza, barbecue, etc. to choose from! Whew! Spell DIET! A friend of mine said, DIET... C...H...E.. A...T..., DIET!
Ha! Ha! Ha!
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (1769)
• United Kingdom
28 Dec 15
I tend to have a lot more cheese and cream over the holiday time. That is a problem weight wise for me.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
25 Dec 15
i eat much but I don't gain weight fast. Maybe because I sweat it all out when I walk around in the ward premises. Now, I am trying to cut down my rice intake and eat more proteins.
1 person likes this
