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Maintain your weight this holiday season

Most likely a lingering feeling of goodwill and cheer won't be the only thing you'll be left with after the holidays. The chances that you'll also be left with some extra pounds are strong.

However, you can beat holiday weight gain by following the advice of licensed nutritionists from the New York Presbyterian Hospital:

Maintain your weight this holiday season
  • Plan ahead and use the "calorie bank" concept. The week before the holidays, lessen the amount of calories you eat so you can have more flexibility when the time comes to enjoy the holiday meals.
  • Never go to a party hungry. Eat fruit, non-fat yogurt or vegetables before going to a party. You'll be less tempted to overeat at the get-together.
  • Control your surroundings. For example, never stop to talk to someone who is standing or sitting next to a plate of your favorite cookies.
  • Take a low-fat dish to the party and share it with other guests.
  • Fill your plate with vegetables and lean protein foods. That will leave room for a few samples of foods high in fat. 
  • Eat slowly. Your stomach takes 20 minutes to tell your brain that it is full.
  • Have a strategy in mind of how you're going to deal with gifts such as cookies, sweets and candy. For example, keep one or two and give the rest away. Don't leave them around where they can lure you to overeat.
  • Limit your consumption of alcohol. Alcohol has a lot of calories and it stimulates your appetite while reducing your willpower. Instead of alcohol, drink soda water, water with a little bit of lemon or a non-alcoholic tomato juice cocktail.
  • Don't let the holiday festivities affect your exercise program.
  • Find equilibrium. A bite of cheesecake is better than an entire slice.

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