Winter Weight Gain

By: Carrie Davis/News Channel 7 | News Channel 7
Published: November 15, 2007

Sue Hallums has recently upped her workouts in time for the holidays. It is a good thing too, because now that we've made it through Halloween we're in the period of time dieticians say we gain the most.

Dietician Cynthia Thomas says, "Between the period of Halloween and new years day that's about an eight week feeding frenzy we call it and you can gain anywhere from a half a pound to a pound a week. "

According to Thomas, it doesn't take much extra food each week to add just one pound.

She claims, "500 calories a day and 3500 calories a week could put a pound of weight on you."

Thomas says if you can do like Sue and exercise that's best. She says create a tradition of exercising after your meal instead of just sitting around. For the less motivated, she does have other advice.

Are you headed to a holiday party? Thomas recommends you take your own appetizer as a hostess gift.

Thomas says, "Take something that you know would fall into healthy eating. Stay away from cream soups and stay away from a lot of mayonnaise dressings."

She also says fill up before you go, that way you won't eat too many goodies.

For that Thanksgiving meal, try substituting some of the fatty ingredients, which is exactly what Sue plans to do.

Hallums says, "There are many recipes out there that are adaptable with the sweetener and the low calorie margarines the spray margarines really turn out quite well."

No matter what you, if you do gain weight don't beat yourself up over it. You can always make your New Year's resolution to lose weight.

Other advice Thomas has for us. Plan ahead. If you are going to a party or know you will be eating a lot, cut back throughout the day so you can splurge. Remember, though, skipping meals only makes you more hungry. Also, if you know you will have a lot of leftovers, make goody bags for your guest to take home. That way you won't be left with most of the food to eat yourself. Finally, she recommends you focus your energy on the real meaning of the holiday and not the food you can or cannot eat.