Holiday indulgences surround us everywhere this time of year, so what do you do if you want to keep off the weight? Aside from bonding with family, singing holiday tunes, and gift giving during the holidays, our favorite pastime time is eating. The holiday season is basically an excuse for Americans to eat whatever we want, whenever we want, and personally, I know I am guilty of overindulging. As Mercy girls, we love our food, but those tempting dishes and sweet treats that make our mouths water aren’t good for those in the world who may be attempting to monitor their weight.

It’s hard enough to prevent weight gain and keep the weight off in general, but losing weight during a time centered around food adds a whole new layer of difficulty.  However, I think the first step to wanting to lose weight or keep the weight off during the holidays, is to initially understand that there is nothing wrong with gaining a few pounds. Your weight naturally fluctuates a few pounds over time due to a variety of factors, such as puberty, so there is no need to stress. On the other hand, it is also acceptable to want to lose weight if it’s something you’re concerned about. You can always talk to your doctor if you have questions about your health or weight.

Next, I think it’s really important to know that gaining weight over the holidays is easier because there are more factors than just the fact that we’re eating more. Some factors that affect your level of holiday weight gain are social pressure, stress, and irregular exercise routines.

Filling up your stomach with a Thanksgiving turkey or a Christmas ham is very tempting, but in order to reach your desired weight, it’s important to make a plan and stick to it. Some remedies for holiday weight gain are eating the right fats, tracking your meals, clearing your environment of junk foods, and setting goals for yourself. There are many techniques available to help prevent unwanted weight gain, and it’s imperative to apply them because celebrating the holidays is a lot easier without the stress of gaining that unwanted weight.