Resolution: This Year, No Holiday Weight Gain by Dr. David Lipschitz on Creators.com

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Resolution: This Year, No Holiday Weight Gain

Recently Consumer Reports issued a report about what we like the least about Christmas.

As many as 68 percent of us complain the most about the long lines, followed by gaining weight (37 percent) and getting into debt (37 percent). Other pet peeves include shopping for gifts (28 percent), seeing relatives we dislike (24 percent), having to be too nice (15 percent), attending too many parties (16 percent) and holiday tipping (12 percent).

In relation to health, weight gain is a serious concern. As a physician, I love giving advice, and I do know what I should do to prevent loosing my belt as the month of December progresses. Unfortunately, like everyone else, my average December weight gain can vary from as little as 2 to as much as 10 pounds.

When I really gain weight, I truly feel awful and have to pay a great deal to return — months later — to where I should be. This is the year, for the first time, I promise to practice what I preach and commit to not gaining weight. Why do we eat so much more during the holiday season? We are exposed to plentiful food, large celebratory dinners, cocktail parties, open houses, weight-gaining gifts — delicious cakes, cookies, candy, chocolates, nuts, dates, popcorn — and much more. In my office, in the break room and at home, I am constantly tempted by open boxes, sacks and plates filled with everything I love. "Just one," I usually say as I slip a cookie, followed by a chocolate pretzel, into my mouth and I am usually sipping my favorite drink of all time — eggnog.

Needless to say, one is never enough; soon I have consumed two and then 10, and I finally leave thinking to myself what a pig I am. Even if I am totally full, I still drag myself to the next celebratory cocktail party and enjoy a glass of wine and too many snacks.

Avoiding weight gain during the holidays requires a great deal of discipline and willpower.

Ask any expert or the occasional person who always behaves well during the holidays, and he will tell you that it can be done.

First and foremost, avoid temptation. Those delicious, generous gifts are wonderful, but we should all try and ration. Keep the majority of treats out of sight and out of mind, by sharing the goodies with as many friends and family members as possible. Perhaps we, as a nation, should put a moratorium on fattening food gifts and instead give healthful foods such as fruits, inedible gifts or even a membership to a health club or a program such as Weight Watchers!

You can be disciplined as you venture out to a number of holiday open houses. Ideally, eat a light snack such as an apple or yogurt before leaving the house. Avoid arriving at the party famished, as you will almost certainly eat much more than you should.

Do not, under any circumstances, go to the food table until you are ready to eat. Do not stand at the table and graze; picking up finger food after finger food guarantees that eventually you will consume more than you should. Rather, fill a plate prudently with food, move away, sit down, eat as slowly as possible and chew for as long as you can. Vow not to go back for seconds, and from then on stay as far away from the food as possible. Make a commitment to splurge on a delicious dessert no more than twice a week.

And, if possible, keep to an exercise schedule. Just because it's Christmastime, do not make excuses why you cannot exercise; it will cost too much in the long run. Most importantly, start the day with aerobic activity — either a brisk walk or a jog at least four days weekly. Continue achieving at least 90 minutes of aerobic activity weekly.

This is the year I am going to do it. I write this on a Sunday night. I started the day with a brisk 30-minute walk with my dog, have been to two open houses, only ate at one, avoided the desserts, and I feel great!

Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the book "Breaking the Rules of Aging." To find out more about Dr. David Lipschitz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. More information is available at:

www.drdavidhealth.com