Holiday Weight Gain: Not as Bad as You Think

I just received some good news via an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: the average American only gains one to two pounds during the holiday season. With all the decadent food surrounding me throughout this 6-week period, this news makes me feel a lot better.

Here’s the bad news: Findings from the study indicate that while weight gain during the holidays is negligible, people usually have a hard time losing the weight. So basically, the weight you gain over the holidays may not be much but it will probably stay with you for awhile. Darn!

Here’s the thing about the holidays: it’s annoying to watch everybody stuffing their faces while you sip water and munch on a fat-free saltine. I’m not gonna deny myself my mom’s famous spinach dip or my grandmother’s delicious chocolate chip cookies. My strategy is to use a small plate, fill it up and then stay away from the table the rest of the night—that way I get to indulge but I won’t gorge myself like I usually do. I’m also gonna watch my alcohol intake. It seems like alcohol weakens my resolve and I’m more prone to overdoing it. I think I’ll stick with the diet soda this year!