7 Tips to Stay Skinny This Holiday Season

Dec. 23, 2009— -- Celebration, relaxation, and tasty, edible office gifts. The downfalls during the holiday season are not new to anyone.

(Wouldn't it be nice, by the way, if someone brought dumbbells as gifts to office colleagues instead of food? Of course, this might offend, as it may indicate that you feel your co-workers are out of shape. Food that is highly caloric, however, is still acceptable. What gives?)

Fortunately, you don't have to fall into the holiday trap. To counter weight gain during the holidays, here are seven simple strategies that you can implement today -- strategies that many skinny and in-shape clients have successfully implemented:

1) When It Comes to Dining Out, Be a Kid Again

Going out to restaurants for celebration at holiday time is a challenge. The portions are large, and alcohol is served freely. When you make decisions regarding which place to choose, try to be involved and choose a place that is family-friendly -- even if you don't have your family with you. This is because many family-friendly restaurants have kid-size meals. Yes, order them. Save on calories, and save your figure for the next swimsuit season.

2) Drink Smart

Drink it up! No, not your favorite alcoholic beverage. Rather, drink your water. This holiday season, make a point of drinking two glasses of water before each meal. Hydrating your cells help you to flush your system. Also, the alcohol you do drink will dehydrate you; you will need fluids that hydrate your skin to prevent wrinkles, which makes you look older. But the real benefit is that you will be able to eat less as your hunger pangs subside when you drink water beforehand.

3) Stressed? Choose Pampering Over Pigging Out

Brave the shops and restaurants over the holiday season, and you will notice stressed-out and unfriendly customers. Shouldn't be the holiday season the best season of the year? Additional tasks and to do's pushes many over the edge -- and to ease this stress, they may choose to overindulge at the holiday table. So relax, take a breath, and draw yourself a hot bath. Create your own bath tub therapy by adding on rosemary, thyme, peppermint tea or green tea to your bath. Voila, your home becomes your spa. The point here is that relaxed individuals do not need additional food to manage stress. Managing your stress will help you to stay in control with your eating and not to go on a carb rampage.