Tis the Season 10 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Drink Up! Downing some water before a meal will help you fill you up a bit so you wont feel so famished when its time to eat. Hence, you may pass on that second helping of mashed potatoes.For the compulsive snacker, stock up on low-cal drinks. Theyre a great alternative to the empty calories you were bound to reach for.

Go Dutch With your dinner. Everyone knows that American restaurant portions have gotten out of controlyet we still manage to finish them. Try sharing a meal or a few appetizers with whomever youre dining with. Youre likely to feel satisfiednot stuffedand youll save some money, too!

Get New Dinnerware It may sound crazy, but smaller portions served on large plates can you leave you (and guests) wanting more. People dont just go by how full they feelthey go by visual cues. If they see the bottom of their plate, they must be done. Serving a meal on a smaller plate, or eating ice cream in a smaller bowl, will seem more satisfying than if served on something larger.

Keep a Journal Writing down what you eat wont let you forget the handful of M&Ms you grabbed or the 10 fries you ate from someone elses plate. Every bit counts.

Eat Fiber-Rich Foods Long-touted as one of the best ways to lose wayand for good reason. Foods rich in fiber take longer to digest, so you feel fuller, longer. Lentils, beans and even yogurt are great options.

Stop Eating Before You Are Done Seriously. Put down your fork when there are still a few bites leftand wait a few minutes. Research suggests that your desire to continue eating on autopilot will go away.

Do Soup or Salad Ordering a small salad or a light soup before your main meal when out will encourage you to eat less. You wont be starving when your meal comes, and you will have ingested lower-cal foods.

Sleep

Like pretty much everything in life, weight is affected by sleep, too. Not getting enough rest can cause you to reach for quick-fix pick-me-ups like candy and soda the following day.

And, really, who wants that?

Brush Your Teeth and Shut the Lights A few hours after dinner, brush your teeth, so you wont have the desire to snack on something sweet that will ruin your minty, fresh breath.Also, shut the light to the kitchen to signify that its closed for the night.