Thwart holiday weight gain

Over the festive season, slimmers enter a ‘danger zone’. It's the time of year when temptations are everywhere.

Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas or New Year, everywhere you go – to the shops, to work, to school events or to an office party – all the nice ‘goodies’ associated with the festive season are all around you and seem to shout ‘EAT ME!’

You can’t hide till it’s over, so what can you do?

• To avoid weight gain, it's important to be selective. Trying a little of everything is dangerous. It's better to simply satisfy yourself with a few of your favourites than to add all those extra unwanted calories.
• Do not skip meals, especially breakfast. It slows your metabolism and you are more likely to binge.
• Drink plenty of water as it fills you up and increases your metabolic rate.
• Consider keeping a food diary. If you know you have to write everything down, you are less likely to nibble.
• If you do overindulge, don’t give up. Continue on your eating plan and it will most likely correct itself before the next weigh day.
• Don’t go to a party hungry as you are more likely to nibble. Remember that starters are more fattening than your main meal, so be selective!
• Limit your alcohol intake as it contains empty calories and it lowers your inhibitions, making you more likely to binge.
• Focus on socialising – if you're talking, you won’t have much time for eating. Give yourself one trip to the buffet table and stand as far away from it as possible. Talk more and eat less!
• Practise saying “no thank you” in an assertive, but polite manner. For example: “Thank you for an enjoyable meal … but I am full.”

Hints and tips
Unfortunately, not everyone holds functions/parties with health/weight in mind, so here are a few tips on what to choose or rather to avoid: 

(Information provided by Weigh-Less)