We are rapidly approaching "the Holidays". Urban legend suggests that we Americans pack on lots extra pounds between Halloween and New Year's Day. The bad news is, most of us will put on some weight. The goods news is that it will likely be much less than the frenzied hype suggests. Here are some of the real facts about Holiday Weight Gain.
The average American is likely to gain about 2 pounds over the Holiday Eating Season. About half of us fall in this range. Now this is an average so there are people who will gain more, perhaps much more. But some will put on none at all.
We are very unlikely to "compensate" for too much eating and drinking with additional exercise. Controlled studies show that only about 20% of the extra calories are burned off by an extra visit to the gym.
Very few people are successful in returning to their pre-Holiday weight with a post-Holiday diet. That means that even one or 2 pounds are likely to stick with you. If you eat more and different foods at all those parties, you will have a very difficult time going cold turkey in January. If you struggled with your weight before the Holidays, it will only be more difficult afterward.
There is no need to deny yourself some overindulgence at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. One or two heavy eating days is not going to have a big impact on your weight. What does is a Holiday diet of booze, sweets, carbs and fat sustained for 6 or 8 weeks.
To give yourself a leg up on the season, start your day with a breakfast high in protein, enjoy the eggnog but do so moderately, and have a plan when you head to the party so far as what and how much you will wolf down.
Two pounds or so is not really a big deal, unless it sticks with you forever.
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