Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Don't Let the Holidays Ruin Your Weight Loss Goals

By Ashley Morisson


The holidays present many hurdles for those of us trying out best to lose weight. There are so many temptations everywhere! Anyone who bakes will redouble their efforts around the holidays, and many other people buy snacks and sweets at the grocery store or bakery. Meanwhile, there are the holiday meals full of all kinds of fattening dishes. This doesn't mean, however, that you should just give up on your weight loss goals for the whole holiday season. It only takes some researching into the best methods for dealing with the holidays. This article will provide you with some helpful tips on how to do this.

Don't be in denial about how challenging the holiday season can be. You can't change the fact that you'll be tempted by many unhealthy and fattening foods this time of year; all you can do is form an effective strategy to resist them as much as possible. Work with your doctor, a counselor, anybody who can help you identify what is going to trigger your urge to sabotage your diet and then figure out how to face those triggers healthfully so that they don't get the better of you. Don't ignore the emotional and psychological aspects of overeating, as these are often the root cause of it.



If you need help, you should be able to find a good counselor to talk to. There is an emotional stress that is heightened to the extremes during holiday times. No matter what, it is a stressful time, but even more so for anyone carrying around the burden of wanting to lose weight. Unfortunately, the more stress you are under, it just makes you want to eat more. It is easy to feel guilty, when you are tempted to eat some food. When you cheat on your diet, the guilt can be overbearing. It's a vicious cycle. Working with a counselor to get through your emotional issues is a great way to help you get a better handle on what it is that is really making you want to cheat on your diet. Anytime of the year it would be a good thing, but at holiday times it would be especially beneficial.

The next time you're tempted to consume some treat at a holiday event, focus on a person and talk to him or her. As you socialize more, you'll find that you'll have less time and energy for eating. The more attention you pay to your fellow guests, co-workers, friends, family members, etc., the less time you'll have to fill up your plate at these events. This is actually the whole point of holiday gathering, anyway, so why not take advantage of this? You can nibble on some food, but don't let that be the main point!



It may take some thought and creativity, but you can persevere with your diet even during the holiday season. Even if many people decide to throw in the towel during the holidays, that doesn't mean you have to. It's true that it takes more effort and will power to succeed this time of year, but you can do it if you're determined.




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