tips please - how not to pack on pounds during holidays?

[Anonymous]

I've never seen this. The thin, fit women I know never stuff their faces. Ever. To them gluttony means having a sliver of pumpkin pie for dessert. Which is why they are thin and fit.

Actually, the thinnest, fittest woman I know is a triathlete and you should see this girl eat! It could put an NFL linebacker to shame. I wish I could eat like that & get away with it. But of course I'm too lazy to workout / train like she does so I don't have anywhere near the metabolism that she has.

[Anonymous]

I'd recommend that you fill up with a glass of water before dipping into the holiday delights. It'll fill your tummy.

Secondly, eat slow. It takes your brain 20 minutes to know that you are full.

[Anonymous]

I think the worst thing for me is having food in my house. Its so easy to get caught up in the "we must have Christmas cookies" mindset. And then I eat them for weeks. So now i only make them right before Christmas and get rid of them a few days later.

For our office party, I try to bring something healthy, and then let myself have a few bites of some of the fattier, tempting fare.

I don't go to many other parties. But in general, just staying away from the food is the best trick. The closer the proximity to the food table, the more likely I am to "nibble."

I also try to develop family traditions that aren't based off of food. So many of my childhood memories are based on food (special fatty muffins on Christmas morning) that I always gained weight on holidays. I don't want my son to carry that same burden. A few cookies here and there are fine. But I try not to make a big deal about food around holidays.

[Anonymous]

Eat before you attend any party.

Start each party with a glass of water.

[Anonymous]

Wear fitted pants or some other constricting outfit to holiday parties and dinners. I find that when I wear stuff like that I notice when I'm starting to get full much moreso than if I'm wearing "fat pants" or a loose dress.

[Anonymous]

The Post is having a chat about this on Tuesday Nov 30 at 11:00 am:

http://live.washingtonpost.com/seasonal-weight-gain.html