by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: April 18, 2009

People generally find that their diet and exercise regime becomes more relaxed during the holidays. Even though the holidays are supposed to give people time off work to relax with their families, many individuals find the holidays quite stressful, having to accommodate their relatives and plan, prepare and cook the family feast that is served up on Christmas Day, as well as buying and wrapping presents. They therefore tend to find that there are more pressing concerns than keeping count of how many calories they are consuming. However, it might be better for these stressed-out individuals to focus on themselves more for a change, as otherwise they could end up paying the consequences when they step on the scales in the New Year.

It is not only the stress of having to arrange Christmas and New Year festivities which can cause people to alter their usual routine of diet and exercise; there are also many more temptations around. The holidays are when all the fattening desserts are put on display, and when there are a multitude of special offers on chocolates, cakes, biscuits, and sweets. Also, when people are busy they are less likely to spend time preparing healthy meals, and are more likely to rely on the convenience of calorific fast food. Individuals therefore need to remain alert to the temptations and to try to avoid the lure of special offers, as they can simply find themselves overfilling their cupboards with food, which they then end up eating.

When Christmas finally comes a huge feast is usually involved somewhere, but it is still possible to keep control of the calories being consumed, provided individuals think about portion sizes and choosing healthier options. They might want to choose a healthier dessert, or avoid dessert altogether, particularly if they have already nibbled on all the little snacks they bought in, which nobody else seems to partake of.

Even if individuals do find that they have eaten too much they don't have to feel bad about it, as if they increase their activity levels they will soon burn off the extra calories. It also gives them an excuse to get out of the house so that they can get some fresh air and have some time to themselves. If they are feeling stressed, it may also help them to calm down a bit.

If people want to avoid bingeing over the holidays they simply need to think about what they are eating and drinking, but they shouldn't become obsessed with tracking every single calorie, as everybody overindulges a bit during the holidays. Ideally they should have a little bit of what they love, rather than bingeing, but sometimes not everybody does what they should. Even if they fail and end up bingeing they shouldn't make themselves feel guilty, and exercise can be a good way to relieve any such feelings.

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