As the days get shorter and the weather colder, it’s a constant reminder that the holidays are quickly approaching! As much as we love the holiday season and spending time with friends and family, we also know it’s a time when every day could turn into a splurge if we allowed things to get out of hand.

Here are a few tips that we use and that we suggest to our clients to get through the holidays without gaining a few extra pounds:

1. We eat balanced meals. We do indulge in small portions of some of the delicious holiday dishes that are likely high in calories and fat, but we always make sure we’re filling up on a small portion of some lean protein, whole grains, fruits, and LOTS of vegetables. Loading up on the veggies is our true saving grace since they fill us up with nutrients and fiber and very few calories! It doesn’t leave a lot of room for unhealthy alternatives.
2. Another something we do that helps to prevent us from overeating? We wear snug belts to let us know when we’ve had too much! (And we resist the temptation to loosen them! Haha!)
3. We eat before we head over to a big dinner party. If you go to a party famished, you’re more likely to over eat (you’re especially likely to overdo the not-so-healthy foods!). So, we eat healthy meals packed with protein and fiber (like oatmeal and a hard boiled egg for breakfast) and for lunch (something like a salad with lots of veggies topped with tuna and orange slices) and then we have a small, healthy snack (usually lots of steamed veggies and some green tea) to take the edge off hunger before heading to the party. This way we’re better able to control cravings and resist temptations.
4. We survey our options before filling our plate. This way we are certain to pick only our favorite foods instead of a bit of everything.
5. We go for seltzer. A mixed drink will set you back 250 calories and a 5-ounce glass of wine will cost you 120 calories. We prefer to use our calories on food. If alcohol is your thing, clearly wine is the calorie saving option. Make yours bubbly like a wine spritzer by adding seltzer to thin out the calories even more. And remember, not only does alcohol have more calories per gram that carbohydrates and protein (7 calories per gram in alcohol, 4 calories per gram in carbohydrates and protein), but drinking also lessens your inhibitions, meaning it’s more likely you’ll overeat after having a few drinks.
6. And to prevent overindulging in the sweets, we… do A LOT! (otherwise, it would be a free for all! 😉 ) Here’s what we suggest

And one last word of advice for during holiday time: Plan to maintain your weight. It’s usually not realistic to plan to lose weight during the holidays. So, instead, plan to maintain your current weight and then continue your weight loss plans come January 1st. If you plan to lose weight and don’t, it can be discouraging.

Do you have any other helpful tips you use to prevent overeating and weight gain during the holidays?