I did pretty well with Thanksgiving but am worried about all of the holiday parties

Losing Weight During the Holidays
by Jennifer May, M.S., R.D., M.S.
for DietWatch

Q: I have been steadily losing weight (around 1 pound per week) and want to try and continue this trend through the holidays. I did pretty well with Thanksgiving but am worried about all of the holiday parties and gatherings over the next few weeks, not to mention all of the holiday goodies that seem to turn up everywhere! I do walk for 40 minutes, 4 times per week. Do you have any suggestions?

A: 'Tis the season for holiday temptations! There are several things that you can do, as well as tips to keep in mind, to help you continue with your weight loss over the next several weeks.

First of all, keep up with your exercise! You may even want to try and add an additional day or two, or increase the amount of time you spend walking. Also take advantage of holiday shopping. Online shopping may be tempting but you don't get much exercise sitting at the computer -- hit the mall instead.

Start a food journal (or continue one); you can find one on the DietWatch site. This is a great way to keep track of what you are eating during the day. Plan ahead for days that you think you may indulge - have smaller meals during the course of the day so at the end of the day you've covered your bases. Enjoy your favorite treats in moderation and let other high-calorie foods that you don't really want pass. We all have our favorite cookies, pastries and treats. A few here and there is fine, just don't feel guilty about enjoying them! Have a small healthy snack such as a piece of fruit or yogurt before attending holiday gatherings. Going out with something in your stomach will make it less likely for you to overeat. Even if you find that your weight loss comes to a halt the next few weeks - don't worry! Just focus on maintaining what you have lost and once the new year hits, you can get back on track. For holiday weight maintenance tips, click here. Seasons Greetings!

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Jennifer May, M.S., R.D., M.S. is the Manager of Nutrition Services for DietWatch Jennifer holds two master's degrees from Indiana University, one in nutrition science and one in exercise physiology. Jennifer has taught nutrition and biology at the university level, and has provided nutrition and fitness counseling and coaching for individuals, medical facilities, health organizations, and schools. She has produced educational materials and has appeared frequently on radio and television.