17 No-Diet Tricks to Keep Off Holiday Weight

Truth time: The average American gains about a pound between Halloween and New Year’s, according to a New England Journal of Medicine study. While a pound or two doesn’t sound like a lot, if you put on just two pounds a year over the course of 10 years, you’ll be up 20 pounds—something that experts refer to as “creeping obesity.” Avoid the holiday weight gain, and you’ll avoid the creep (and a so-uncomfortable, too-snug waistband). Read on for easy, no-diet tips to keep the pounds from piling up—while still celebrating and enjoying the season.

Hydrate your plate

“Water-rich foods, like fruits and vegetables, help to keep you hydrated and feeling fuller, longer,” said Rima Kleiner, RD, a Greensboro, NC–based nutrition expert. “High-water foods also tend to be loaded with dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals like potassium, which helps counter the bloating sodium in salty or processed foods which holiday parties are rife with.”

And don’t forget to drink lots of water, too.

“When your body is thirsty, it can exhibit similar symptoms as when it’s hungry—growling stomach, hunger pains, feeling tired,” said Ilyse Schapiro, RD, a nutritionist in private practice in the New York City area.

Read Full Article