The festive season can be challenging when it comes to weight loss. Over indulgence during the festive season can easily put on 3-8kg. The weight gain occurs because we consume larger food portions, more alcohol and do more snacking on the wrong foods. We also tend to move less and drop all of our good habits. The extra kilos are much harder to get off than they are to put on, so moderation is the key over Christmas.

At Christmas time for most people it is unrealistic to try to lose weight; it is more realistic to aim for a goal of weight maintenance, here are some useful tips to ensure that you maintain your weight this Christmas:

• Don’t just drop all of your good habits for the next four to six weeks, Christmas functions are in full swing. If you start overdoing it now and continue until well after New Year’s you will undo all of your good habits. Don’t make Christmas 2011 something you have to spend much of 2012 recovering from – is it really worth it?
• Choose the parties/functions where you will allow yourself to indulge, don’t go crazy at every function, limit the days you indulge a little more to Christmas day and one or two other selected parties, this will limit the damage that you can do to your waistline!
• Alcohol is often a source of calories where people come undone. Beer and pre-mixed drinks are the worst offenders. Instead of a glass of wine, try a wine spritzer (with soda water). Spirits with soda water (instead of cola) are a lower calorie option and rotating an alcoholic beverage with water is good for both the waist line and your liver, helping to avoid a hangover from dehydration!
• Which is the biggest meal today? Change your eating habits accordingly. If you are going out to a big three course lunch then have what you would normally have for lunch for dinner, a salad would be perfect.
• The key is to be selective and choose the healthier option most of the time, like small portions of fresh berries and nuts in place of pudding, or kebab sticks over party pies, raw vegies over fried spring rolls. At a cocktail function with trays and trays of delicious finger food, avoid all things deep fried in favour of fresh items such as sushi, rice paper rolls and sashimi.

• Don’t starve yourself all day it will cause you to overeat at the party.
• Use smaller plates to help you eat smaller portions. Enjoy all the great food but moderation is the key.

• Limit high calorie items. It is important to enjoy all foods in moderation however some foods are going to be much harder to work off (eg pork crackling, pudding, cake, etc). Be mindful of what you are eating and make a conscious decision not to over-indulge in high sugar and high calorie foods.

• Stay positive. If you over indulge, don’t give up, just get back into your usual routine the next day!
• Most importantly, don’t drop all of your good habits, keep exercising! You may miss a few days but don’t miss weeks!

With some sensible planning, go ahead and enjoy the Festive Season!