Training for Book Authors
|
|
Other Resources for Book Authors & Publishers
|
|
Please Support Our Advertisers
|
|
|
|
|
Seven Steps to Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain
Copyright (c) 2010-2023 Julie J. Price
The holidays are here and coming with them are the traditional, seasonal foods we all know and love. Whether it's turkey, ham, latkes, eggnog, or sugar cookies, rich foods tend to work their way into our hearts and bellies this time of year, as meals and as leftovers. Almost invariably, these lead to talk of the infamous 'seasonal seven,' the average amount of weight you could gain over the holidays. There's a reason so many New Year's resolutions involve losing weight and exercising more.
The interesting thing is that many of these concerns can be avoided before the fact, rather than repented of later. For those worrying about the seasonal seven, here are seven simple tips for keeping off the holiday pounds.
Step 1: Make your decisions now, not then.
Lapses in willpower typically occur right at the moment of temptation. We see something big and tasty, and decide that one more helping couldn't hurt too much, and then we're surprised when we've eaten half the dish. Fortunately, there's a trick that you can use that will give your willpower a bit of an edge when the time comes.
Set your limits before you go, maybe as much as a week in advance. Remind yourself that you'll stick to just one small serving of dessert, or that you'll use only a single spoon of gravy instead of two. With the decision made beforehand, there's less temptation to change it when at the table.
Step 2: Set your alcohol limits.
Holiday gatherings frequently involve alcoholic drinks, and these are one of the sneakiest sources of holiday weight gain people can consume. We don't often realize it, but alcoholic drinks do contain numerous calories. A 12-ounce bottle of lager can easily have 125-150 calories, depending on the brand. Having even two or three beers is a big chunk of a 2,000-calorie diet, and we're typically not in an exercising mood afterwards.
Fortunately, this is a fairly easy factor to control. Set yourself a hard limit on alcoholic drinks before the get-together, such as one serving with the meal, or one for the New Year's Eve toast. If you find that people are trying to hand you drinks when your hand is empty, carry around a glass of water or juice so you can show them you're already set.
Step 3: Eat Slowly.
Remember all those holiday meals where you ate and ate, until you suddenly felt so full you could barely breathe, let alone move? Some experts suggest that we can actually eat past the point that our stomach is reasonably full. Our stomachs are slow to send the signal for 'full' to our brains sometimes, so we eat past the point we should.
A way to avoid this is to simply slow down our eating at the table. Take smaller portions to start with, and take the time to enjoy them. Pause for a minute between servings, to let your stomach 'catch up' so to speak. You'll find that you probably consume fewer calories overall, while still enjoying everything the meal has to offer.
Step 4: Eat Healthy.
This may sound like a herculean task, but there are many healthy, delicious options open to us during holiday meals. Green beans, corn, and cranberries often make it onto the traditional holiday table, for example. Consider adding a few extra servings of these sides to round out the heavier staples of the meal, for a sense of fullness and some extra nutrition.
There are healthy drink alternatives as well. Consider replacing your dinner soda or beer with a healthy juice cocktail. A cranberry juice blend mixed with plain soda water is delicious and healthy for you. Drink plenty of plain water as well, as it will help with digestion and keep your body functioning healthily.
Step 5: Exercise!
From the way some people talk, it would almost seem like there's a prohibition on exercising over the holidays, but this simply is not the case. Perhaps you don't have time to make it to the gym, and that's understandable. But you probably do have a few minutes to jog up the stairs and walk back down them once or twice, just to get your heart rate up.
Additionally, there are traditionally family sporting events at some holiday get-togethers. Consider organizing a quick round of flag football or soccer before dinner. Your appetite will be fired up, and you'll have burned off some of those holiday calories in advance.
Step 6: Have a light snack.
Frequently, we try to wait to eat as long as possible before the big meal, so we can save up room. This is actually one of the best ways to gain extra weight, because we start packing in the food with more gusto when we're hungrier. Consider a modest snack a couple hours before the meal, such as an apple or a light sandwich. The extra food will help you keep your resolution to eat in moderation later.
Step 7: Get help.
Watching the holiday weight is harder to do when you have to do it alone. Talk to your friends and family, and ask them to help you watch what you eat. Ask the host if they'll make extra veggies with the meal so you can stick to your healthy eating plan, for example. Team up when you go for your exercise, and get a partner for those short brisk walks around the block. Having a little company will make it more enjoyable, and maybe a little more effective.
Good luck, and Happy Holidays.
VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >>
0 -
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5
<< Excellent Article
Tell our authors what you think about their article.
|
Top-Level Category: Health and Wellness Articles || Related Categories: Shopping Articles
10 Most Recent Articles Written by Julie J. Price
Weight Loss: How to Factor in Food Labels
Written by: Julie J. Price |
Distributed: 2010-01-19 |
Word Count: 906 |
Page Views: 3737
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 1.20
A key tool in gathering information for weight loss s the
nutrition label found on the packaging of almost every piece
of food we buy. Knowing how to read this label is a vital
skill that should be part of every grocery-shopping trip.
Here, we give you the skinny on what to look for, so you can
quickly get the info you need and get going.
Losing Weight: How to Handle Your Cravings
Written by: Julie J. Price |
Distributed: 2010-01-12 |
Word Count: 814 |
Page Views: 3590
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
An overactive appetite isn't easily ignored. It can be
distracting and irritating until it's satisfied and so many
people give in 'just the once,' only to eventually form
craving-oriented habits that sabotage their efforts to eat
well and maintain a healthy weight.
Losing Weight: The Power of Food Journaling
Written by: Julie J. Price |
Distributed: 2009-12-31 |
Word Count: 858 |
Page Views: 3552
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 1.75
So many of us say we want to lose weight or eat healthier,
but frequently we don't realize what we're actually
eating. We understand that a diet of fried food is bad, or
that we need to limit our deserts, but we may not appreciate
how much of these foods we are managing to sneak into our
diets. Fortunately, there is a very simple tool called a
food journal that can help us take measure of our eating
habits. From there we can learn to manage what we eat.
All of Author's Articles on this site: Julie J. Price Articles
Most Recent "Health And Wellness" Articles
The Powerful Antioxidant You Cannot Eat Or Drink
Written by: Nate Rifkin |
Distributed: 2011-07-20 |
Word Count: 499 |
Page Views: 4415
| Votes: 1 |
Rating: 1.00
There's no need to eat or drink anything to activate your
body's powerful antioxidant to prevent free radical damage.
You'll end up healthier inside and looking better on the outside
as well.
3 Bacterial Vaginosis Remedies You Can Start Using Today
Written by: Louise Endago |
Distributed: 2011-07-20 |
Word Count: 867 |
Page Views: 7851
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 1.20
Very few women are successful at treating bacterial
vaginosis using one treatment alone. The secret lies in
using a combination of treatments that complement one
another. In this article you will discover 3 such remedies
that give excellent results.
Encouraging Healthy Children with Outdoor Play Sets and Activities
Written by: Giana Briggs |
Distributed: 2011-03-17 |
Word Count: 410 |
Page Views: 6752
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.40
Having a play set in your backyard can be a great way to get
your child off the couch and out into the fresh air. With
childhood obesity on the rise, we need to do what we can as
parents to get our children active and enjoying playing and
interacting with each other children again. Being able to go
out in the yard and have something to do is just one small
step in the right direction.
How to Recognize Anxiety in Children and Adolescents
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2010-12-28 |
Word Count: 836 |
Page Views: 7037
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 1.00
Problems with a too-high level anxiety can start in
childhood with children and adolescents worrying to a
greater extent than their peers about all sorts of things.
Some behaviors are an indication of a fussy and over tidy
child. When we go just a little bit over fussiness and we
have entered the realm of an anxiety disorder.
How to Tell if You Have Anxiety Disorder
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2010-12-23 |
Word Count: 1093 |
Page Views: 7052
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 1.20
If you're someone who can never earn enough or have enough
money to relax about it, and to enjoy spending it, you may
have underlying anxiety problems that you haven't had to
face, or you haven't wanted to face.
How to Tell the Difference Between Anxiety and Normal Worry
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2010-12-21 |
Word Count: 979 |
Page Views: 6571
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.40
Anxiety is a normal feeling people experience when faced
with threat, danger or stress. Feeling anxious can sometimes
be a good thing. Occasional anxiety is part of normal life.
However, for some people anxiety is a constant factor in
their lives. When a person has anxiety problems, it
interferes with their ability to function normally on a
daily basis. Anxiety disorder can cause people to feel
intense, long-lasting fear or worry, in addition to other
symptoms.
How to Treat Your Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2010-12-16 |
Word Count: 742 |
Page Views: 6624
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 0.86
Next to Depression, one of the most common disorders which
affects an estimated 2.4 million people in America alone, is
anxiety disorder. Anxiety can manifest as a generalized
anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety and agoraphobia.
Anxiety disorder can be mild or so totally disabling that
the person is confined to her or his home. All forms of
anxiety can be extremely frightening to those who experience
it frequently, but many individuals have found comfort in
the fact that anxiety disorders can be treated.
Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks: How Cognitive Behavior Therapy Can Help You
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2010-12-09 |
Word Count: 748 |
Page Views: 6716
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 0.25
In your journey to conquer anxiety and to eliminate panic
attacks from your day-to-day life, no one approach will be
totally right, but Cognitive Behavior Therapy can be a very
powerful part of your recovery. In this short article, I
want to explore what's involved in Cognitive Behavior
Therapy, so that you can make a decision whether or not
you'd like to explore it with your therapist.
Losing Weight - The Addiction of Comfort Food
Written by: Larry Tobin |
Distributed: 2010-11-04 |
Word Count: 863 |
Page Views: 6400
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.00
Its very name is appealing - comfort food. What could be
more wonderful than a food that helps us feel better? Almost
everyone can name something that they eat when they're just
feeling sour or sad. Of course, we know that food can't be
the solution to our problems, especially the problem of
trying to lose weight and keep it off. So why do we find
ourselves trapped in the eat/feel better/feel worse/eat some
more cycle?
Understanding the Roles of Respite Caregivers for Seniors
Written by: Bob Fischer |
Distributed: 2010-11-02 |
Word Count: 582 |
Page Views: 5241
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.67
Caregivers for seniors are typically paid providers but they
may also be volunteers from a government or nonprofit
organization. Where care is being provided in the home there
is often a mix of formal and informal care provided. And the
trend is towards using more formal care since, unlike the
past, more informal respite caregivers are employed. Read
on.
Most Viewed "Health And Wellness" Articles
Bone Density and Your Well Being
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-06-15 |
Word Count: 685 |
Page Views: 51689
| Votes: 47 |
Rating: 2.55
We spend a lot of time and energy thinking of ways to reduce our
weight but we need to think about the bones that form the basic
structure of the very same body. Bone density is an important
factor in helping us stay young and on our toes. Bone density
needs to be checked as we age and if found low, adequate measures
need to be taken to improve it.
President Given the Cure for Herpes and Cold Sores ?
Written by: James Kaylon McIntyre |
Distributed: 2006-11-09 |
Word Count: 404 |
Page Views: 33420
| Votes: 25 |
Rating: 2.24
Viraway was founded by a man who is in his 70s today. As a Young
man he suffered from acute cold sores. The discomfort was so
severe that he thought they would never go away. A native
American Indian gave him a tribal mixture of herbs and told him
that this mixture would eliminate the cold sores with in two
weeks...
Oyster Extract Improves Men's Sexual Health
Written by: Stephen Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2008-06-26 |
Word Count: 851 |
Page Views: 28655
| Votes: 61 |
Rating: 3.41
Description of the benefits of taking oyster extract powder for
good sexual health in men and women. Details of the features and
benefits, the different brands, the alternatives and advice on
choosing the right oyster extract product.
How to Force Your Body To Melt Fat Like Butter In A Microwave
Written by: Robert Kokoska |
Distributed: 2008-04-08 |
Word Count: 613 |
Page Views: 22808
| Votes: 37 |
Rating: 2.62
There are a couple of very simple changes you can make to the way
you eat that will force your body to become a fat burning furnace
and cause you to easily drop your unwanted pounds day after day.
Losing Weight Without Gaining Stretch Marks
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-12-11 |
Word Count: 579 |
Page Views: 22029
| Votes: 47 |
Rating: 2.70
Few things can make us as elated as seeing the pounds melt way
through our efforts of eating less and exercising more. We gain
new confidence and vitality as we watch our waistlines reappear
and become reacquainted with the tops of our feet. But as the
weight falls away we can be plagued by a new assault - one we did
not see coming - stretch marks.
Is Retinol Good for Your Skin?
Written by: Craig Elliott |
Distributed: 2007-10-04 |
Word Count: 576 |
Page Views: 19564
| Votes: 48 |
Rating: 2.60
These days, whether you have wrinkles or you are certain that you
will get them in the near future, it is hard to ignore the
hundreds of new anti aging products on the market. With retinol
and AHAs, BHAs and vitamins, it's hard to tell which products
are actually going to work and which ones are will not. While a
lot of the success rate depends on the unique qualities of your
skin, there are scientific studies that have shed light some of
the more popular skin treatments.
Mold Spores In Your Home - How Much Is To Much
Written by: Daryl Watters |
Distributed: 2007-05-15 |
Word Count: 866 |
Page Views: 19438
| Votes: 35 |
Rating: 3.03
Health responses to mold spores can be affected by the length of
time you are exposed to spores, the size or type of spore you are
exposed to, the levels of dust mite and roach allergens,
individual sensitivity to allergens, emotional stress, general
health, as well as other substances and factors that have not yet
been discovered by mold inspectors. Thus, as a result mold spore
levels alone at your property cannot always be relied on to
always answer questions such as "Are molds in my environment
making me sick."
Causes for Yellow or Dark Brown Poop - Symptoms of Healthy Poop - Dr Oz's Tips to Diagnosis Yourself and Self Help
Written by: John Khu |
Distributed: 2009-12-29 |
Word Count: 545 |
Page Views: 16542
| Votes: 18 |
Rating: 1.94
Now the question arises how to detox your body? Body toxins
are accumulated due to improper food consumption; sedentary
lifestyle also causes digestion problem and heavy metal
toxins to accumulate in our body. Therefore, in order to
avoid bowel problem, your body needs to heavy metal detox.
What Does a Stun Gun Do to the Human Body?
Written by: Fred Cheney |
Distributed: 2008-01-02 |
Word Count: 494 |
Page Views: 16415
| Votes: 29 |
Rating: 3.03
The word "stun" has a mysterious ring to it. It is synonymous
with words like "overwhelm," "stupefy," and "daze." What
do these words really mean? In other words, what would happen to
your victim if you touch him with your stun gun? What would
happen to you if you stunned yourself? Could someone be
permanently injured, or worse, die? To sum it up: What are the
effects of a stun gun shock? These are all important questions -
questions with solid answers.
14 Causes of Constipation
Written by: Howard Richman |
Distributed: 2008-12-02 |
Word Count: 1642 |
Page Views: 16276
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 2.85
For people who know all about drinking liquids and eating fiber
but still have never been able to break free of their curse of
constipation, this article offers many other considerations that
will help the reader find solutions to lifelong constipation.
Highest Ranked "Health And Wellness" Articles
Which Full Face CPAP Mask is Best for You?
Written by: Chris Vasta |
Distributed: 2009-09-01 |
Word Count: 690 |
Page Views: 9670
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 3.42
If you've been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, you are
undoubtedly trying to narrow the choice of masks. If your
mouth opens during sleep, one option would be full face CPAP
masks. The full face CPAP mask is used to deliver pressure
through both the nose and mouth. Trying to decide which full
face CPAP mask to use can be complex and expensive. The
number of mask options available is confounding. Based upon
comfort, fit, good seal, and durability, we recommend the
following three full face CPAP masks.
Oyster Extract Improves Men's Sexual Health
Written by: Stephen Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2008-06-26 |
Word Count: 851 |
Page Views: 28655
| Votes: 61 |
Rating: 3.41
Description of the benefits of taking oyster extract powder for
good sexual health in men and women. Details of the features and
benefits, the different brands, the alternatives and advice on
choosing the right oyster extract product.
What Makes Tea So Effective At Preventing Heart Disease?
Written by: Jon M. Stout |
Distributed: 2007-02-02 |
Word Count: 812 |
Page Views: 4582
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 3.22
Many bodies of research have shown that tea is effective at
preventing heart disease in several ways. Tea prevents the
oxidation of LDL cholesterol into plaque, the hard substance that
clogs our arteries, making us more susceptible to heart attacks
and strokes. Tea is also thought to have an anti-inflammatory
effect, which helps the heart in its overall function.
Green Tea May Positively Effect Stomach Cancer in Habitual Tea Drinkers
Written by: Jon M. Stout |
Distributed: 2006-11-06 |
Word Count: 535 |
Page Views: 4102
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 3.18
Stomach Cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related
deaths in the Western World. In fact, the American Cancer
Society estimates that 22,228 Americans will be diagnosed with
stomach cancer during 2006. They also project that there will be
an estimated 11,430 deaths from this type of disease. Therefore,
the search for a cure for this disease has been a long standing
one. In the past, clinical researchers have hypothesized that
drinking green tea may indeed inhibit stomach carcinogenesis,
and a few case-studies with animals and human beings have
successfully broadened this theory.
A Comparison of Tattoo Removal Methods: Tattoo Removal Skin Peels Vs Tattoo Removal Creams Vs Tattoo Removal Using DermaBrasion
Written by: Abe Granberry |
Distributed: 2009-09-30 |
Word Count: 1821 |
Page Views: 8316
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 3.18
A friend and I, along with 3 other buddies, decided to try
an experiment to remove tattoos that we have all had for
many years. Over time we just decided we no longer liked
what we saw on our arms, shoulders and chest so we decided
to test all the varieties of tattoo removal except Laser
because none of us could afford the price, plus we wanted to
see for ourselves if the other products actually worked or
were just marketing hype.
Colon Cancer: Risks and Prevention
Written by: Abel Travers |
Distributed: 2007-12-13 |
Word Count: 785 |
Page Views: 3964
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 3.17
Cancer: it's not a word that anyone really wants to hear. While
not necessarily a death sentence, cancer is an illness that does
have a high mortality rate depending on where in the body it
strikes. Read on as we examine what can be done to head-off Colon
Cancer, the third most common cancer.
Body Detox Tips: The Dos and Don'ts
Written by: John Khu |
Distributed: 2008-12-23 |
Word Count: 496 |
Page Views: 3434
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 3.17
Most people know about detoxing, but do they know that there are
things that we should and shouldn't do? If not, we will share
some body detox tips today so that they will know whenever they
decide to go on with a detox diet.
Stress is a Killer... Will it get YOU?
Written by: Dr. Rich Starr, PHD Psychology |
Distributed: 2004-10-05 |
Word Count: 1223 |
Page Views: 3004
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 3.14
I have read a number of times that the medical profession does not know why a preponderance of heart attacks occur on Monday morning throughout the world.
I believe I have found an answer to this riddle.
This Killer Monday Morning Syndrome comes about, I believe, because most people have Saturday and Sunday off from work. Because of this time off from work this gives them more additional time to think about things and therefore add more additional things to their to do list, and presto they wake up Monday morning full of stress and nervousness and don’t realize or know why.
Taking the Shame out of Pudendal Neuralgia!
Written by: Violet Matthews |
Distributed: 2006-10-26 |
Word Count: 1170 |
Page Views: 6829
| Votes: 22 |
Rating: 3.14
Chronic pelvic pain has affected 15-30 percent of women and men
in the world. Finding a diagnosis and treatment can be quite
challenging. Some women and men with chronic pelvic pain have a
very rare disorder called pudendal neuralgia. Learn about the
diagnosis, treatments and outcomes from this extremely painful
neuralgia.
Breast Enlargement Through Natural Herbal Supplements - Is It Safe?
Written by: Asep Komara Sanjaya |
Distributed: 2008-03-11 |
Word Count: 342 |
Page Views: 2620
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 3.14
Are you interested in larger breasts? Are you trying to take your
look to the next level? If so, you are not alone. There are
thousands of women the world over who are interested in larger
breasts. Not only do they think that this is attractive, but they
also know that men love this as well. But when it comes down to
it, enlarging your breasts is not always the easiest thing to do.
|
|
|
|
|
Article Reprint Rights
|

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons License
You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
|
Article Statistics
|
Word Count: 925
Total Views: 3287
Article Rating: 2.00 of 5
Votes Cast: 4
More Articles By Author:
Articles On This Website
Last Distribution Date:
2010-01-14 11:15:00
Internal ID: #7248
|
|
|