3 ways to stay on track and stop holiday weight gain

Joanna Kriehn, MS, RDN, CDCES - Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)

Despite a season filled with calorie-rich meals, sugary treats, and a mindset of indulgence, holiday weight gain is not inevitable when you approach festivities with our top three tips. These reasonable, workable ideas will help you fit into your jeans come January.

Create accountability to stop holiday weight gain

Don't wait till the start of the new year to take responsibility for your weight and health. While weight-loss accountability looks different for everyone, here are a few ways that have helped others manage this challenging time of year.

Check your weight regularly on the scale and keep track of the number. Perhaps this is very different from how you've approached the holidays in the past. Avoid sliding into the trap of denial by excusing your indulgences reciting, "It's the holidays!" Such thinking can feel liberating at first, resulting in surprise and frustration when January rolls around, and your pants are incredibly tight!
Use a diet and activity tracker to help you make informed choices. Instead of mindless snacking this holiday season, make a personal commitment to continue tracking. Over the years, many clients I have worked with agree that tracking helps them feel better about their food choices and can be informative. You may learn you are eating fewer calories than you thought!
Use a diet and activity tracker consistently over the holidays. Don't just sign up for a tracking app to find it sits on your mobile device "collecting dust." Instead, commit to using it for the entire month of December. Want to get the most out of a tracker this holiday season AND lose weight? These tips can help.

Don't arrive hungry to a party or gathering

Avoid holiday weight gain by planning ahead when it comes to holiday parties or festive meals. Instead of arriving at a special event on an empty stomach, eat something light before going. For example, an apple with peanut butter, hummus and veggies, or a small turkey sandwich will take the edge off your hunger to help prevent overeating. Once you've arrived at the gathering, slowly sip sparkling water to top off your hydration.

Stop holiday weight gain and still bake homemade gifts

Do your holiday traditions involve baking? Modify those high-calorie, homemade treats by cutting back on sugar or experimenting with sugar alternatives. These ideas will help control calories and sugar content. Chances are, your friends and family are also working hard to manage their weight and will appreciate the steps you've taken to create healthier desserts.

Your clothes and the scale show some holiday weight gain. Now what?

If you realize you've overindulged and gained some weight over the holidays, take a deep breath. It is not the end of the world! Managing weight over the long haul includes its ups and downs from time to time. Occasionally you fall off track, and the scale creeps up. The best thing you can do at this point is to not stress about it, especially if you tend to turn to food and drinks to manage stress. So instead, take a few minutes to cut yourself some slack, and then decide on two things you can do immediately to get back on track.

These resources will help you get back on track and create weight-loss accountability right now.

4 Effective strategies for getting back on track - when it comes to losing weight
Falling off track? Here are 4 tips to help you keep the weight off for good!

While food and drink are traditionally important aspects of the holiday season, they are only one piece of this rich and festive time of year. The holidays permit us to slow down and enjoy time with family and friends-to show gratitude to those in our lives, honor those not with us, and appreciate this fleeting season.

Wishing you a healthy and peaceful holiday season!