HOW TO STAY ON YOUR DIET THROUGH HOLIDAY PARTIES

Go to a late holiday party and people will be talking about how much weight they have packed on since the holidays. What's worse is that the holiday they are first referring to is Halloween when they didn't get enough trick or treaters and ended up eating all the candy that had been for them. Don't let this happen to you this year.

The following are some tips to guide you safely through the holidays while you stay on your diet.

1. Eat. Yes, eat. The holidays mean being so busy shopping, cleaning, and running that you skip meals. Then you end up at fast food joints or vending machines. Keep some healthy foods with you at work and when you go shopping. Grab a brown bag on your way out the door. Fill them with nutrition bars, oatmeal bars, cereal, fruit, a hard-boiled egg, a can of tuna. These will come in handy when the holiday snacks start showing up at work.

2. Sleep. You won't get it all done if you are dragging around. And if you don't get your eight hours of beauty sleep, you might look to food to pep you up.

3. Exercise. Keep your stress levels down and your calorie burning level up. If you don't have time, make time, about 30 minutes a day minimum. First thing in the morning before your day starts is usually a good time.

4. Relax. Again, keep your stress levels down so you won't do emotional eating. Read a book, do some yoga and some deep breathing.

5. Indulge moderately. Total deprivation will just make you feel sorry for yourself--so sorry you might just say to hell with the whole diet. Before you go to a party eat a healthy snack like a yogurt or some fruit. High fiber foods like a bowl of oatmeal or some vegetables will make you feel full.

When you get there start drinking water to fill you up. Take an inventory of the buffet table and choose a couple of items you won't find available the rest of the year. Then fill your plate with with veggies, grilled items and fruit as well as small portions of those two items. If you decide to drink alcohol, have a glass of water for each glass of it. Look for low-fat eggnog.

6. Once you have filled your plate and eaten, move to another area and engage in conversation away from the food.

7. If you're asked to contribute a dish for the party, make it something healthy like a veggie and yogurt dip platter, a nice garden salad with low-fat dressing, or a fruit platter.

8. If you usually make food as gifts such as cookies or candies, this year make a craft. Try a wreath, candles, or a Christmas ornament.

9. If you have a dinner or other type of holiday party, be sure to send all the fattening holiday foods that people bring home with them. And remember that you don't have to serve anything but healthy foods.

10. You choose the restaurants. Plan to go to places where you know you can order healthy dishes. Don't forget to implement portion control by putting half of your dinner in a "to go" box when it arrives.

11. You need your food diary now more than ever. Enter your daily food intake faithfully so there will be no calorie surprises creeping up on you.