-First, don’t tell yourself, “It’s okay, it’s the holidays” because that opens the door to six weeks of splurging. Instead, when you hit the party circuit, wear your snuggest clothes to discourage overeating and concentrate on the social part of the evening instead of the food and drink.
-Then, it may sound obvious, but don’t stand near the food. A study found that obese people stand or sit 16 feet closer to the buffet than normal-weight people. They’re also 77% less likely to browse the buffet before filling their plate. So, pick three or four unusual foods, take a small serving of each, and don’t come back for seconds.
-Another way to avoid the seasonal seven: Exercise every day, no matter what. Even 10 minutes can burn off a little stress and maybe half a cookie. Your best bet: Hit the treadmill in the a.m. Studies show that 75% of people who work out in the morning stick with it, but just 25% of after-work exercisers keep at it because by the end of the day, too many excuses pop up.
-Eat your five-a-day fruits and veggies before you start on the holiday treats. When you fill up on healthy food with plenty of fiber, you’re less tempted by processed sugar, which will help you avoid the sugar highs and lows.
-Avoid temptation. Don’t walk through the break room 10 times a day when you know it’s full of holiday treats. Before a party, eat a healthy snack with a little protein. Protein takes longer to digest, so you’ll still feel full when you get to the party.
-Finally, remember that liquid calories count. One eggnog or specialty coffee can have as many calories a as personal pan-pizza. Studies show that people who drink liquid calories don’t reduce the amount of food they eat to compensate. In fact, liquid calories are more fattening because they take less energy to digest. Keep this in mind: To burn off just one regular soda, you’d have to walk for one hour and 18 minutes.
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