Nov 25, 2008 8:50 pm US/Eastern
Tips To Keep The Weight Off This Holiday Season
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Holiday parties can easily translate into holiday pounds, but it doesn't have to be that way
AP
Holiday parties can easily translate into holiday pounds, but it doesn't have to be that way.
CBS 2's Dr. Holly Phillips has some tips to help keep your diet on track.
Food takes center stage during the holidays and many people gain weight without knowing it between Thanksgiving and the new year.
"It's very easy to pack on 3,000 calories. Very, very simple," says Sharon Zurlinck, a registered dietician. "The extras – the gravy, the nuts, the dessert, the pieces of chocolate, you don't even realize it."
It only takes 3,500 calories to add a pound of fat. To help survive the seasonal parties without packing on the pounds, there are some simple strategies that can make the difference.
First, step away from the hors d'oeuvres.
"Don't stand in front of that table while talking to people, because you're not going to realize if you keep taking the vegetables and dipping it into a dip," says Zurlinck.
Second, fill up before the festivities.
"Before you go to the party, I suggest you have a cup of vegetable soup, maybe a low-fat yogurt and some fresh fruit so that you feel more full and you're not going to be tempted to start with all the appetizers," says Zurlinck.
Next, choose your spirits wisely.
"What I would recommend is try having a white wine spritzer. That way, you fill up the glass half of what you would have and you have some no-calorie club soda right there," says Zurlinck.
After the holiday feast, don't recover on the couch.
"After the meal is finished, bring the whole family outside for a walk," says Zurlinck.
Finally, if you don't love it, don't have it.
"Think about those foods that I don't really need to have. I really wouldn't care if I missed it. And just stay away so that you don't waste your calorie allotment on those items," she says.
Diet experts recommend chewing sugarless gum while you're cooking. The trick is thought to prevent unnecessary tasting or nibbling on the appetizers while you're putting the finishing touches on the meal.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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