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Focus on Weight Control Instead of Weight Loss Keeps Spirits High During Holiday Season

Change in Attitude Can Help Dieters Keep Weight Gain at Bay

ATLANTA (December 17, 2003) – For many people, the holiday season inevitably leads to weight gain. With all the holiday parties, shopping, holiday goodies, etc., it's a real fear for many dieters. The good news, however, is that most health professionals agree the average weight gain is approximately one pound during the period between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Although this may not seem a concern, the problem compounds over the course of several years. Most people never lose that extra pound - so after several years it becomes extra pounds, which may add up to five, ten and sometimes 20 pounds.

However, with a little planning and a shift in attitude, the dreaded holiday weight gain does not have to be unavoidable. The Calorie Control Council (a non-profit trade association that has tracked dieting and weight loss trends for the past 20 years) offers these suggestions:

• Change your mindset. Instead of focusing on weight loss, focus on weight maintenance. There may be too much going on and too many tempting parties, holiday engagements, etc., to focus on weight loss.
• Watch portion sizes. Since there will be more items to choose from, use even smaller serving sizes than you normally consume.
• Let your keyboard help you fight calories. Wondering how many calories are needed to maintain weight? Log on tohttp://www.caloriescount.com/. The free Diet Assessment Calculator can help consumers determine the number of calories needed to maintain weight based on their personal information.
• Find more activity in your day. Paying careful attention and finding ways to be more active (no matter how small) can make a difference. For example, wrapping gifts for 20 minutes rather than having the department store do it can burn an extra 48 calories. Taking the stairs at the mall rather than the escalator (for a total of three minutes) can burn 31 calories. Cooking and baking holiday treats for an hour instead of purchasing store bought goodies can burn up to 148 calories.

With just a little planning, dieters and even those who want to control their weight can make it through the holiday season without added pounds. "It is possible for people to control their weight during the holidays and still keep their holiday spirits high. The key is shifting your focus - trying not to gain weight instead of trying to lose it," notes Beth Hubrich, a registered dietitian and director of nutrition communications for CaloriesCount.com. She adds, "The trick to weight maintenance is to be conscious and in this case it means calorie conscious."

In addition to the Diet Assessment Calculator, weight-conscious consumers can also log onto CaloriesCount.com to share their feelings on holiday weight gain. An online poll allows them to voice their opinion and indicate whether they will fight the battle of the bulge through the holidays or wait until the New Year to start eating healthier and exercising again.

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The Calorie Control Council is an international non-profit association representing the low-calorie and reduced-fat food and beverage industry