Your Personal Trainers at Fitness One Speak out

10 Ways to Avoid Gaining Weight over the Holidays
If you don't follow these tips, you are almost guaranteed to gain 10 pounds or more in the next 3 months

Do you really want to put on weight during this time of the year?  According to researchers at the National Institutes of Health, most Americans never lose the pounds they will gain during the winter holidays. The pounds add up year after year, making holiday weight gain an important factor in adult obesity. Then, by January 1st, frustrated they flock to Fitness Centers and gyms only to fail again at shedding off the pounds.


Of course, it's not easy to go on portion control when the temptations you are facing are endless.

Sound hopeless? You do not have to fall into this trap. It is possible to enjoy holiday goodies without putting on a single pound. Here are the Official Fitness One tips to avoiding what millions of Americans will be going through this year...If you have questions you can contact Fitness One Training Systems in Kernersville N.C. at trainer@myfitnessone.com.

Kernersville Personal Trainer tips

1. Don't Show up for the Party Hungry

Olinda Branch, Certified Personal Trainer at Fitness One, says planning ahead can help you maintain discipline in the face of temptation. "Don't go to a party when you're starving," she warns. Try to have a nutritious snack beforehand. If you do arrive hungry, drink some water to fill up before filling your plate.

2. Put your attention somewhere else-Other than the table

Many people forget that there's more to a holiday party than food, Says Olinda. "Don't look at the party as just a food event," she says. "Enjoy your friends' company or dancing. Focus on something other than food."

  Chatting is a great diversion, whether you're at a small family dinner or a large party. "Take your mind off of food and focus on the conversation."

3. Set a slow pace

Have you ever tried telling yourself you'll only eat during the first half hour of a party? This strategy is a mistake. If you cram in as much as you can in half an hour, you chew faster. Chewing more slowly will fill you up with less food.

4. Don't be tricked by the buffet line

When dinner is served buffet-style, use the smallest plate available and don't stack your food; limit your helpings to a single story. "Go for the simplest foods on the buffet," Finn says. "Fresh fruits and vegetables and shrimp cocktail are good choices. Watch out for sauces and dips." Fitness One Personal Trainers recommend salads first, drinking water before each meal and making good buffet line choices.

5. Steer clear of Alcohol

Avoid drinking too much alcohol at holiday parties. "It's not just about calories but about control, If you drink a lot you, won't have as much control over what you eat.



6. Choose sweets carefully

When it comes to dessert, be very selective. "Limit your indulgences to small portions and only what is very sensual to you," Olinda says. Her personal rule on sweets: "If it's going to have calories, it has to be chocolate."

What about sampling several desserts, if you only take a tiny bite of each one? You have to know yourself, Olinda says "Some people can eat one bite of something and stop. I don't think most people can do that. "If you know you're the type who can't stop at one bite, you're better off taking a small portion of a single dessert than piling your plate with several treats you plan to "try."


7. Remember Each day is a new day

If you do slip off of the wagon, remember each day is a new day. Start fresh on THAT day! Putting it off until January 1 is basically saying you are going to cut loose for a few weeks and then battle it off with a new Fitness routine, and the stats say it iis way tougher to make that happen.

8. Bring Treats of your own

No matter if it is a friend's party or an office potluck, consider bringing  low-calorie treats that you know you'll enjoy. Bringing your own snacks will make the more fattening choices less tempting.

9. When you are playing chef, don't be a big "Taste Tester"

If you do a lot of cooking during the holidays, crack down on all those "tastes." "People lose their appetites when they've been cooking because they've been eating the whole time. Instead of tasting  every few minutes, limit yourself to two small bites of each item.



10. Work It Off

Follow a few of these tips, show up at Fitness One your recommended 3-4 times per week and you will have no problem staying in shape or maintaining your weight through the holiday season! Our Kernersville Fitness program is guaranteed to help you keep the waistline small, and the muscles toned. At 500-700 Calories on averaga per workout, we can help you be where you want to be!

Allen Branch is a Certified Personal Trainer, A Performance Enhancement Specialist with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, a Sports Conditioning Specialist with American Fitness Professionals and is Certified in Resistance Training Biomechanics from the Cooper Institute in Dallas. He has logged over 15,000 hours of Training time and education, and is the Founder of the Fitness One Training System, a safe, effective training protocol that helps adults and children get in shape in a safe, fun atmosphere. He can be reached at trainer@myfitnessone.com