2008 Woodie Awards
How to avoid the holiday weight gain
Kate Ambrose
Issue date: 12/7/04 Section: Sports
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It's the Thursday night after Christmas break and everyone is going out to celebrate the first Thursday night back. As many begin to get dressed the realization is made that the sizes we put on the Christmas lists are no longer accurate. Many people notice that with the upcoming holiday weight gains happen here and there. Yes, it's that time of year when sweaters cover up the bad eating habits of "comfort foods."
"When you overeat or eat calorie rich food over Christmas, forgive yourself." said Assistant Recreation Sports Director Noah Harner.
With the cold weather and early dark nights, it can become more and more difficult to make it to the gym.
"During the holidays I find it hard to get to the gym, especially with parties, shopping, and the cold weather", said Junior Kristen Deck. Others have the same problem has Deck, but there are many ways to avoid gaining the extra bulge.
The main problem most face is holiday parties and Christmas dinners. It takes just 500 excess calories a day to gain one pound in weight and at Christmas it is easy to overeat.
Here are some helpful hints from Harner on how to avoid the holiday weight gain. Alcohol is full of empty calories. Try to stick to low calorie soft drinks or at least dilute a dry white wine with soda water or sparkling mineral water. Plus, one should decide on certain nights not to drink. It is also a good idea to have a meal before going to the party, so as not to over indulge. If you find yourself standing near the food table chatting, quickly get away, because before you know it you will have eaten all the appetizers. You don't have to eat and drink excessively to have a good time. Trying to work out before you go to Holiday festivities can also help. If there is a buffet, avoid pastries; stick to salads and fruit. In restaurants, choose grilled dishes without sauces or other low calorie, low fat options. Also, throughout the holidays, it is important to start the day off with a healthy breakfast.