How to beat the holiday bulge

     With the holidays now in full swing, it's not at all uncommon for people to cheat, if not ditch their diets all together during this (cursed!) time of year when there's amazing food everywhere! What with all the parties taking place, who wants to be the lone party pooper in the corner munching on celery sticks and sipping vitamin water while everyone else is merrily enjoying fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies and downing spiked eggnog? While it may be hard to avoid over-indulging during the holidays, here's how you can stay within the general ballpark range of your diet, so that when it comes time to make those New Year's resolutions, you'll only have to resolve to drop 20 pounds, not 200.      

    
                                                        Here's how: 

1. Keep moving, even after a big meal. We all know the inevitable cozy, sleepy feeling that creeps over us after a huge holiday meal. Now staying active doesn't mean bust out the Bowflex in the middle of the living room for a quick work out session, but it does mean you should keep moving in order to resist the call of sinking into a food coma on the nearest comfy couch from taking over. Helping clear dishes, getting drinks for everyone, or just taking a short walk will help keep your metabolism stimulated.

2. Snack. Yes, we are giving you permission to snack! The reason being that snacking can actually be helpful in staving off extra holiday poundage. Many of us will often hold off on eating all day in order to create extra room for the anticipated meal later that evening. However, if you starve yourself then eat, you'll end up consuming twice as many calories in your famished state as you normally would. By snacking wisely throughout the day (the key word here is wisely!), you'll be less likely to narf down absolutely everything that is set before you on the dinner table. Some smart snacks choices include fruits, nuts, and veggies.

3. Avoid sugar on an empty stomach. Consuming those ridiculously good sugary little devils (that come so sneakily disguised in the innocent form of snowflakes Christmas trees!) on an empty stomach is on par with eating Pringles- you can't have just one. And since the empty calories contained in sweets don't give your stomach the 'full' feeling that other protein and fiber-packed foods do, you will subconsciously feel the need to consume more in order to fill up. The best way to indulge in desserts is after a meal, making you less likely to eat as much since you are probably already somewhat full. So as addicting as those  miniature Snickers and wreath-shaped rice crispy treats may be, just remember that although they provide a few seconds of pleasure on your lips, it is for the high price of showing for a long time on your hips.

                                         (Ahhh my weakness! FML!)

4. Limit your alcohol intake. As much as we feel hypocritical for telling you to cut back, it is with good reason! Not only is alcohol super high in calories (especially those sugary girly drinks we love so much!), but it also gives you "beer munchies," making you way more likely to make 2 a.m. JBox runs once you've thrown back a few. Also, since alcohol is a toxin, the body will automatically want to dispense of it before digesting food, which means that food will sit in our stomachs longer, making our bodies more likely to store it as fat rather than use it as energy. So while I won't even argue the deliciousness of Bailey's peppermint hot chocolate or a holiday cranberry martini (see 'How to throw a kick ass holiday cocktail party' for the recipe! wink wink), I will argue that maybe we should slow up after the second our third one. Our thighs will thanks us later.

    Ultimately, the key to beating the holiday bulge comes down to exercising a little self-control and remembering to always indulge in moderation. Here's to keeping a belly that jiggles like a bowl full of jelly limited to old Saint Nick!

(That's right Santa, you eat them!)