Maintain, Don’t Gain

One of the biggest challenges we have during the holidays is healthy eating. The average American gains one to two pounds every year from Halloween until New Year’s Day.

While this doesn’t sound like much, the vast majority of people never lose this holiday weight. Therefore if you are the average American, ten years from now you will be 10-20 pounds heavier than you are today.

It’s not just holiday meals that cause problems, but also holiday celebrations both at work and in homes and the treats and snacks many coworkers bring to the office. Even if you know that most of these treats are bad for your cholesterol, blood pressure and waistline, it’s hard to turn them down.

It’s essential to have a plan of action to prevent holiday weight gain:

• Share lighter fare. Offer to bring a fruit or veggie tray with low-fat dip to family gatherings.
• Try healthier recipes. Now is the time to try some new heart-healthy recipes for your holiday meal. Many times you can modify your own traditional holiday recipes to make them healthier by making simple ingredient substitutions.
• No food gifts, please. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask family and close friends not to give you food gifts at Christmas.

Studies show that significant weight loss can greatly reduce or eliminate obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. If you are struggling to lose weight, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center offers surgical and non-surgical weight loss options that can also provide benefits to overall health. Our staff will help you decide the weight loss option that is right for you and your weight loss goals.