by Jimmy Page
It is estimated that the average American gains between 7 and 12 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s!  And some overachievers go far beyond that!  So what can you do about it?  Here are 13 can’t miss tips to beat the battle of the Holiday Bulge!

1.     Start the day with exercise – something always comes up later in the day!  Burn those extra calories to start your day and get your metabolism running.

2.     Eat smaller portions – don’t pile the food up high on your plate like you may never eat again!  Eat some of the Holiday treats, but go easy!!

3.     Wait 15 minutes to go back for seconds – it usually takes 20 minutes for your stomach to signal the brain that you are full so slow down!

4.     Get someone else to “feel your pain” and be in it with you!  Some call this “misery loves company”, but I call it accountability!  There is strength in numbers!

5.     Eat your vegetables first, protein second, carbohydrates third – this allows you to feel more full and avoid overeating!

6.     Eat a good breakfast – oatmeal, fresh fruits, whole grain cereals, eggs – you get the idea!  This helps to curb your appetite throughout the day.

7.     Choose fruit deserts instead of cakes, cookies and pies – less refined sugars help reduce your overall caloric intake!

8.     Drink water – don’t get extra calories in soda or juices.

9.     Eat a little something before you go out to dinner or to a party – you tend to eat less if you are not “starving” when you order your meal!

10.  Build activity into your family gatherings – don’t just sit on the couch and watch football all day long.  Go for a family walk, play some two-hand-touch football, or go for a hike!

11.  Weigh yourself every day – this helps you to be able to make adjustments before things get out of hand!

12.  Start each day knowing when and what you are going to eat – that way you can set limits and go in with a game plan.

13.  If you can’t control your sweet tooth, don’t have sweets in the house!  This may seem extreme, but for some of us it may be necessary.