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Many people make great progress with their diets, only to hit a brick wall when the holidays come around. It's not easy to adhere to a diet when you're attending parties, visiting with friends and family and seeing all kinds of foods, treats and snacks wherever you go. Trays of cookies, treats and other snacks are everywhere, tempting you away from the healthier options you've been using to fortify your body. Lots of people just give in to the idea that it's better to give up on dieting and living a healthy lifestyle during the holidays. You can, of course, take this approach and start dieting again in January -quite a few pounds heavier, in all likelihood. But you don't have to do things this way. It will feel much better to finish up the holidays looking and feeling good rather than having to make up for weeks of overeating and under exercising.

You should prepare yourself for some challenges when it comes to dieting and exercising during the holiday season. Recognize that there will be all different ways to stray from your diet and indulge in the wrong kinds of foods -and then find ways to overcome these challenges. Work with your doctor, a counselor, anybody who can help you identify what is going to trigger your urge to sabotage your diet and then figure out how to face those triggers healthfully so that they don't get the better of you. Even though these issues affect your body, many of them are really emotional in nature.

If you're like many people, you drink more alcohol than normal around the holidays. You've undoubtedly heard a few stories from friends (maybe you have one of your own) about drinking too much at the Christmas party and doing something they (or you) shouldn't have done. Losing weight will be much easier if you are a light drinker or if you don't drink alcohol at all. The calories you get from alcohol are really sugar and don't do your body any good.

Another factor to consider is that when you drink, you're inhibitions go away; this might feel good, but it makes you much more susceptible to the temptations of any food that's nearby.

Ingredients which are healthy should be used for your meals. One hint that should be common sense, and that would be to avoid the holiday foods that are full of butter, lots of sugar, or are fatty foods. Foods that are rich and heavy don't have to be used during the holidays, do they? Some of the dishes you already eat, can be made to taste just as good, but by using foods that are better for you. If you learn to prepare healthier foods, by doing a little research, then when the holidays come, you won't need to be quite so concerned.

Maintaining your weight loss goals over the holidays takes some thought, but it's surely doable. While the holidays may cause you to change your habit a little, for the most part it's perfectly possible to remember your diet and exercise regularly. So stop worrying about what impact the holidays are going to have on your diet, and just make sure you're fully conscious about all your habits and you'll get through this period unscathed.