Being on a diet is difficult any time of the year, but the holidays are arguably the worst. A lot of people simply give up and try to start over after the New Year, often finding themselves in the same position the following year. There are 3 main things that happen to throw us off the diet wagon, so here are some tips to help avoid them.

Socializing – This is the worst, everyone is having fun but you! Between office parties, neighborhood parties, kids parties, and family gatherings, you just can’t win. There is food galore and everyone is stuffing their faces. The best thing you can do is eat before the party. Fill on up high protein and high fiber foods so you won’t be tempted to try everything. Bring your favorite dish that is reasonably within your diet plans so you can munch on something and feel like part of the group.

Crazy Schedules – Finding time to eat properly and exercise during the holidays is almost impossible, but it can be done by combining your workouts with daily chores and preparing meals ahead of time. Let’s face it, when you are short on time, you are more likely to grab fast, processed food that’s high in calories. Take a few of your recipes and set aside an hour or two to make and freeze them for the coming week. Pack salads in small containers to grab on the go. Have your personal trainer create a workout that can be done in your office. By taking just 3 minutes an hour at work you can complete your weight training routine using nothing but your body weight and your chair!

Temptation – Food is wonderful! Holiday food is probably the most wonderful food on the planet, so it can be extremely difficult to control cravings around the holidays. Don’t deprive yourself, enjoy a small serving of your favorite foods. Just don’t hoard them in your own home, let your family know you don’t want to take leftovers home. Instead of buying a whole apple pie, get one of the single serving packages that are available now. Remember, if you don’t have it in your house, you can’t eat it!

Have any other tips to prevent overeating during the holidays?

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