4 Ways to Stay on Your Diet During Christmas

Does your diet fail every year because of Christmas? Holidays in the United States are almost always relegated to as the time when everyone puts on a few pounds. This year though, it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are four pain-free ways you can stay on your diet this Christmas:

1.    Drink lots of water. Just as with any diet, drinking more water is essential any time, but especially so during the holidays. Your body can become dehydrated without you even realizing it. Rather than pouring a glass of wine or sugar-filled drinks, opt for a bottle of cold water instead.

2.    Have a pep talk with yourself. All too often, diets are thrown out the window during Christmas because you know how much food you’re going to be around. You think that you might as well forget about your diet because there’s no way you’ll be able to stay on it while you celebrate. You’re wrong. Half the battle of sticking to a diet is having a made up mind that you’re going to be successful this time. Remind yourself of this every time you reach for another potato chip or slice of pecan pie.

3.    Exercise often. Getting exercise during Christmas is actually not nearly as impossible as you might think. Simple things make a big difference, like parking far when you shop and walking a ways to get to the store. Instead of riding the escalator in the mall, take the stairs.

4.    Eat half as much. Cutting down on your portions can dramatically reduce your chances of falling off the diet wagon. Grab a small saucer instead of a full-sized plate. Get a cup of punch that is half-full, if you must drink punch, rather than full to the top. These tiny steps are doable by anyone and can make a huge difference.