We are in the holiday season, past Thanksgiving and coming up on all the holiday parties. Does this mean you have to put your natural weight loss goals on  hold? Or that you have to avoid the parties? Or, go to parties, and content yourself with crunching a few celery sticks while you watch everyone else eating all your favorite food indulgences?

The answer to all these questions is “No!” You can get through the holidays and still keep your weight loss goals, and go to holiday parties, and even sample some of your favorite food indulgences. You just need to pay attention. Don’t fill a dinner plate with 2000 calories worth of appetizers, take a small plate, and be very selective about what you want to taste. You can taste anything, but not everything. You don’t want to snack your way through a party eating hundreds of empty calories. Pick one or two of your favorites, and make the rest of what you eat low calorie, high nutrition foods, such as vegetables or fruit.

Be sure to drink plenty of water, especially if you are drinking alcohol. Make the ratio at least 2 glasses of water or club soda for every alcoholic drink you have. Make sure to sip the water (or club soda) slowly; this will help you get through the party without adding too many calories. (Water and club soda have zero calories, alcohol has 7 calories a gram.)

Remember not to go to a party hungry. Eat something before you go that is low calorie, and either high in protein or fiber, so you will feel full longer. (Low fat cheese, or a slice of turkey breast, or some vegetables or fruit will do the trick.)

Put your focus on enjoying spending time with friends and family, and not on eating until you burst, and you will get through the holidays with your natural weight loss goals intact.

You can lose weight naturally throughout the Holidays