How I Kept My Diet on Track During the Holidays

by Jean T.
(Philadelphia, PA, USA)

Food and the holidays go hand in hand. Everywhere you turn there is another plate of Christmas cookies, or tray of appetizers at a party. To prevent myself from overindulging in these delicious treats, I followed a few rules. First, I never went to a party hungry; that just leads to overeating, which leaves you feeling miserable. Instead, I ate a light meal at home before going out. Broth-based soups, celery or carrot sticks with a few tablespoons of organic peanut butter, or half a sandwich made with light/low-sodium meat and low fat cheese will stave off those hunger pangs and prevent overindulging in sweets.

Another diet killer is alcohol. It's all empty calories—plus it can lead to some pretty embarrassing behavior at the office party. One or two glasses of wine over the course of an evening isn't bad (after all, it is the holidays: don't deprive yourself entirely!), but I would alternate two drinks with plenty of water and diet soda.

As much as I enjoy socializing, I also found ways to fit a little extra exercise time in my schedule, just to compensate for the occasional slipup or extra Christmas cookie. 15 extra minutes on the treadmill at a brisk pace or parking further away from the mall entrance (perhaps the only advantage to the holiday rush!) can help burn off those extra calories, and as a bonus, left me feeling re-energized.

The holidays are stressful, so in between all the partying and shopping, I made sure to find time to pamper myself. A cup of tea, a hot bath, and a favorite book at the end of the day was perhaps the best medicine of all.