How many pounds is a pound cake worth to you?

During this festive season of partying and gathering, many people throw their healthy eating plans right out the window. After all, what difference will one more piece of pie really make? When making your holiday plans, you may be wondering if overindulgence during the holidays will truly “make you fat”.

I have spent years educating others about maintaining a healthy weight and how to control weight gain. I am convinced that what you do daily and consistently contributes greatly to your overall health. Just as “fad diets” don’t work in terms of leading to your optimal weight, “fad eating” or one of two days of indulgence will not cause you to be suddenly fat.

One can and some will gain a pound or two over the holidays. You may succumb to eating too many desserts and having too many drinks. Be mindful that your goal is to have a lifestyle of healthy living which will get you to your ideal weight and body image. Pound accumulation over the years it what leads to obesity.

In an article I read about this topic, Roger Cone, chairman of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, agreed that people tend to pick up some weight over the holidays. However, he doesn’t feel it should be of grave concern.

Over the holidays, as the article states, overeating on one or two days won’t do tremendous damage. I always recommend that my clients plan days they will eat their favorite foods and on those days “do damage control.” In other words, don’t hurt yourself too much by binging or by going back for seconds, thirds or more. Eat what you like and eat it in a reasonable quantity. That way you don’t have too much work to lose holiday pounds after the season of “merry eating” is over.

Use your internal clues which tell you when you have had enough and make a decision to make healthy choices, even during the holidays.