Here are 4 things that might be sabotaging your diet this holiday season, plus easy fix-it solutions:

Holiday diet buster #1: You're eating out a ton. We get it: You're busy. Jetting between kids' holiday concerts, work parties, visits to craft stores to find ribbon for a wreath, it's tempting to meet your family out for dinner or to bring takeout home. 

Fix it: Plan quick, healthy meals that will be ready when you get home. We have two words for you: Slow. Cooker.

Holiday diet buster #2: Eating what you think you should. You're doing yourself a favor by reaching for something healthy-dried fruits, nuts, olives-when faced with a holiday-party spread, but often what happens is that you eat these things and then you dive into the mini quiches. In other words, you end up eating twice, or three times, as many calories as you would if you'd gone for what you really wanted in the first place.

Fix it: Eat what you really want. Faced with a holiday spread, survey the scene and pick a few things that look most delicious to you. And go easy on the alcohol, which tends to squelch willpower.

Holiday diet buster #3: You're fortifying yourself with fatty drinks. When you're out running around, a yummy coffee drink seems just the thing you need for a boost. Problem is, these special sips can pack 300, 500, even upwards of 700 calories if you go for the generous size and opt for the whipped cream.

Fix it: Go for smarter, slimmer sips. I'm all for a fully loaded mocha once in a while-but since the season is full of so many other treats, now is not the time to indulge. Instead, pick a skim latte (about 130 calories for 16 oz.) and skip the sugar and syrups if you can. Feel good knowing that you're getting in a full serving of calcium-rich dairy.

Holiday diet buster #4: You're grazing on goodies and forgetting the calories.  This time of year, sweet treats seem to be beckoning around every corner. Yes, picking "just one" (or two) from the steady stream of chocolates and cookies that are flowing through your office during the holiday season seems reasonable-and it is, if you're accounting for the calories they deliver. For instance, two medium cookies will set you back 400 calories-and to burn off those extra calories, the average person needs to run or walk 4 miles.

Fix it: Write down everything you eat. Keeping a food diary may seem like a lot of effort, but it empowers you to indulge in the treats that are worth it (why not have a cookie instead of the usual roll or crackers you have with your salad at lunch?) or to know how much more time you need to log at the gym. Bonus: Adding workouts to your week is a great way to squelch holiday-induced stress if you can spare the time.

Source: Yahoo Shine

From germs on planes (which are only slightly better than snakes on planes) to overwhelming to-do lists, the holidays can be hard on your health. Here six ways to stay healthy so you can enjoy the best parts of the season -- no cough drops required. 

 1. Don't stress! A recent study in Epidemiology shows that feeling stressed can increase your chances of getting a cold.  It can be easier said than done, but just taking a few moments out of your day to focus on your breath and all the positive things in your life can really alleviate some of your stress and anxiety. Of course, cutting back on your to-do list is also a major stress-reliever, which brings us to our next point...

2. Multi-task. Yes, that's right, multi-task! But not in the sense of "try to do 8 million things at once." Rather, scale back a bit by combining two activities in one: gift-giving and feeding yourself nourishing, healthy food.

A good mantra for all of us this year is "less is more," noting that it's easy to forget that it really is the thought that counts. Instead of spending time rushing around the mall, overspending and stressing, cook yourself up a big batch of healthy soup and give away containers of it to your friends and neighbors.

3. Get your sleep, Beauty. We know that lack of sleep can contribute to all kinds of ailments.  As hard as it is this time of year, now is the time to make sure you get at least seven to eight hours of sleep to rejuvenate.  Don't fall into the trap of using a couple of lattes or an energy drink to power through, she warns -- when you're tired, rest, so you can be energized to get more done tomorrow.

4. Travel safe. Long flights aren't just a nuisance, but they can be hazardous to your health because of the increased risk of blood clots. This is especially true if you're on a hormonal contraceptive (the pill, the patch or the ring) and/or if you smoke -- at all. Doctors warn that even weekend smoking increases your risk of dangerous blood clots.  If the flight is longer than three hours, make a point of getting up and stretching. Do some toe-pointing exercises right in your seat as well, and try not to cram so much under the seat in front of you so you can have room to stretch your legs out a bit.

5. Germs, germs everywhere. From the mall to the post office to public transportation, pay extra attention to washing your hands. And if you can't get to a bathroom (try singing a refrain of "Jingle Bells" to make sure you wash your hands for the full 20 seconds required to make it effective), a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer is your next best bet.

6. Drink up! Water, that is. Dehydration can not only bring on headaches and make you grumpy and irritable; it can also mimic food poisoning symptoms. Try getting your fluids in different way, like skipping the coffee and going for peppermint tea during the day. Drinking a big mug of tea before you head to a holiday party is also a great way to get a hydration boost, but ensure you'll be less likely to overindulge on treats and drinks once you're there. Then, drink a glass of seltzer or water for every alcoholic drink you have -- this will keep you hydrated and decrease your chances of ending up with a nasty hangover.

Source: Yahoo Shine

 
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