Factor in all the time spent doing all those holiday-related activities we just mentioned, and it's a safe bet that few of us are carving out the time to get the exercise we need. But whether you're worried about your waistline only during the holidays or year-round, exercise is often the missing piece of the weight loss puzzle. Exercise not only reduces body fat and tones you up, it also raises your metabolism so that you burn more calories. Making better food choices goes a long way, but long-term weight loss success absolutely requires a combination of both calorie control4 and regular, moderate exercise.
Not every social gathering or family get-together needs to be all about the food. We all have a few favorite dishes we look forward to each year, but really ... is what you eat truly what you cherish about the holidays?
If you plan enjoyable non-eating activities such as a game of touch football, a family sing-along, a karaoke machine at the office party, a holiday movie marathon, you'll have fun and plenty of great memories -- but if every event centers around food you'll spend more time regretting overeating than relishing those happy memories. Try to focus on creating special moments with your friends and family and you'll have a healthier, happier holiday season.
