Holidays- a time for joy, family, love, and the countless sweet treats available. It’s a little easier to control when you don’t work in an office where people are always baking and bringing in these temptations but family/social gatherings do have their fair share of overindulgences.

How do you resist? It’s sitting there staring at you all day. Calling your name. You only get these “treats” during the holiday season. You may be strong for one day, maybe a few hours, but sooner or later you find yourself giving into the enticing delicacies. Unfortunately, most often after the year comes to an end, and your jeans won’t zip or the scale reads 10 pounds up - you look back and say “I shouldn’t have eaten all those pies, cakes, etc.”

So what can you do?

1) Allot “X” amount of calories per week for the holiday occasional office treat. Let’s say you know someone brings in something weekly – cut 50 calories per day to allow for this temptation. This would ensure you would have 350 calories extra to enjoy this treat. Or cut less and allow yourself a small portion of this delight.

2) Ask yourself if it’s worth it. Sometimes you just want it, because it’s there. DO you really LOVE pumpkin pie? Or would you prefer to wait for pumpkin crunch. Also, after you take a bite or two, is it really wonderful? Is it worth those calories?

3) Start a holiday challenge with an accountability partner. Finding someone who has the same goals, preferably in the same office can help keep you both accountable to not overeat.

4) Make sure you have your lunch/snacks packed. If you are prepared, you are less likely to eat what you have, versus if you are hungry and have nothing to eat – so will grab what is readily available.

5) Don’t deprive yourself. I believe in flexible dieting. Nothing is off limits – you can add anything in, in moderation. Depriving yourself will lead to binging and will power can only last for so long.

6) Eat slowly. Thoroughly enjoy that sweet. It may leave your more satisfied and less likely to overdo it.

Knowing what usually transpires with the surplus of holiday eating, we can try to come up with strategic actions to combat the holiday bulge. Feel free to enjoy the holiday treats this season - in moderation of course.

Holiday treats…oh my