7 Reasonable Tips for Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain

After eating two heaping plates of lovely Thanksgiving cuisine, you lay on the couch with your pants unbuttoned, feeling disgusted. You promised yourself you would not gorge yourself this year. Later that very same night, you return to the leftovers for another round, vaguely remembering four hours ago when you swore off food forever. Again, you return to the couch, this time pajama pants untied, sick to your stomach, trying to estimate the amount of calories you have consumed in the last twelve hours and how many hours of treadmill you will have to endure to burn off even a ¼ of what you've put in your mouth. You watch TV and see the Christmas ads. Commercials that should bring joy about the upcoming holiday, however it delivers thoughts of horror. You dread the parties, the cocktails, the appetizers, the desserts, the thoughtful gifts of cookies and cakes. The enjoyment of the holidays is erased by realizing your willpower will once again be tested and likely be conquered by tables full of eggnog and tasty treats. The depression sets in and you return for yet another slice of pumpkin pie, thinking to yourself why do I do this to every year?

This scenario is all too familiar. Luckily, it doesn't have to be. Holidays are a time to gather with family and friends. To appreciate the things you have and enjoy new things you may get from Santa. Jingle bells and menorahs should not signify the disappearance of going to the gym and saying goodbye to a diet. Below are seven tips to help bolster willpower and avoid unwelcome weight gain this holiday season.

1. Donate sweet gifts. If a co-worker gives you a basket full of cookies or other goodies sure to test your limits, donate it to your local food bank. Can't find a food bank close to your home? Give the basket away to a friend with a speedy metabolism that can eat anything, just make sure the friend and the co-worker do not know each other.