A healthy eating plan after holiday feasts can avoid weight gain

Failing to get back on a healthy eating plan soon after the big holiday feast can lead to serious weight gain and most likely a New Year's resolution to get in shape.

"Most of us will eat snacks and sweets the week leading up to Thanksgiving or Christmas, then continue for days and weeks afterwards," said Gaye Lynn Hicks, R.D., L.D., a dietitian with the Methodist Weight Management Center in Houston. "This often leads to a whole season of eating and before you know it you have put on a lot of weight in a short amount of time."

Hicks said this type of behavior can spiral out of control very quickly, so adopting a healthy lifestyle becomes more important than dieting. Concentrate on eating healthy when not at holiday gatherings and exercising at least three days a week. Once you get into the "lifestyle mentality" it will be easier for to eat healthier after indulging in fattening foods usually offered around the holidays.

"Look at your calendar and mark down the parties where you will want to eat more and others that will be more diet friendly," Hicks said. "If you focus and plan ahead it will be easier to avoid the inevitable pitfalls of wanting to eat more at holiday gatherings."

"Most of the time it's all in our head. We think we've blown our diet when that is simply not true," Hicks said. "The bottom line is if you want to eat mashed potatoes, lathered in all kinds of stuff, during your holiday meal, do it. It will be easier to keep the holiday pounds off if you remember that your annual feast is just one meal."