How to Lose Weight During the Holidays Without Losing Friends

It happens at every party: You swear that you'll stickone child is eating a certain way, the whole family
to your diet and you're really sticking to your guns,should be eating that way - healthy."
popping crunchy baby carrots into your mouth likeOutside buddies, who provide encouragement and
chocolate bon bons while everyone else is loading uphelp 24/7, also can be part of your weight-loss
on nachos and guacamole dip.network. "I recommend having someone to talk to
Then someone - your mother who has been slavingbefore, during and after you go to these events,"
over the hot stove all day, your Uncle Mike who hasHarrison says. "Buddying up during the holidays is
polished off three martinis, your best friend Marycrucial for people who are alone because you get
who has been trying to lose 25 pounds for the lastcompanionship. You get someone on your team. is
25 years - steps up to your plate and fills it with anone way to do this. It is ideal for a lot of people
extra-large helping of guilt.because it's like one-stop shopping."
"Come on, live a little. Just eat one piece," your sisterOnce you have a buddy, you can work together to
says as she tries to stuff the stuffing in your face.change the menu for future parties. "Make the
"It's your favorite, and I made it just for you. I'll beholidays less about food," Cipullo says. "Meet for
hurt if you don't at least try it."appetizers and drinks, not for formal sit-down dinners.
And before you know it, you're having your andGo ice skating or go for coffee or go out to a
everyone else's cake and eating it, too.restaurant and choose your own food. Go out and
Family and friends, the people you expect to supportlook at holiday lights. Go for a manicure or a pedicure
you, are the very ones who are most likely towith your friends so you can sit around and chat and
sabotage your diet, either consciously orcatch up."
subconsciously, and that's why you need a neutralAnd if your willpower does buckle under the
buddy to get you through not every wedding,mistletoe, remind yourself that it doesn't have to be
birthday, bar mitzvah and holiday party, experts say.feast or famine. "When you learn to ride a bike, you
"When we sit down at the table, we're all sort ofsometimes fall off," Harrison says. "And when you
comparing how we shape up with the other peoplelearn, you don't learn to ride in a straight line; you
there," says Henrietta Harrison, a psychotherapist andweave back and forth and that's how diets should
life coach in Westport, Conn. "We're all looking aroundbe."
the table to see who looks older than last year, whoWeightLossBuddy.com's Top 10 Tips for the Holidays
looks thinner, who looks heavier."1.Find a buddy to help you get through the event and
And when people indulge, adds Laura Cipullo, acall or e-mail the buddy before, during and after the
registered dietitian and certified diabetes educatorparty. For more information on the buddy system, go
with offices in Manhattan, New Jersey and upstateto
New York, "typically they want others to be 'bad'2.If you are a guest, eat a small low-calorie snack
with them and indulge, too."before you go to the party at the time you usually
But as Cipullo and Harrison point out, just becauseeat dinner. If you are the cook, eat a small
you are offered the piece of homemade pumpkin pielow-calorie snack before you prepare the meal.
doesn't mean that you have to eat the whole thing.3.Eat smaller portions of everything on the table.
But it does mean that you can understand why you4.Nibble your way through the party.
are being asked to eat it and then enlist your family5.Use the three-bite rule: If someone insists you eat a
and friends to help everyone beat their bad eatingfood that's not on your diet, only eat three bites of
habits.it. That way, you can tell the cook how much you
"It can be threatening to a partner when the otherhave enjoyed it, and everyone is satisfied.
loses weight because the thinner person will become6.Ask whether you can take a piece of pie or cake
more attractive to other people," Harrison says.home to eat later. Savor every bite by pacing
"When you lose weight, particularly if you are ayourself, only eating a little bit every day.
woman, your confidence increases and it's7.When you turn down a fattening food, substitute a
empowering. This can upset the balance of powerlower-cal food in its place. For instance, instead of the
because as she gets more assertive, she becomespumpkin pie with whipped cream, eat an apple.
confident enough to change jobs, run for the PTA or8.Just say no to that extra helping of stuffing. But do
even go back to work."it politely.
By making your family and friends your buddies,9.Change your holiday traditions so that activities, not
everybody wins the weight-loss game, Harrison andfood are the center of attention.
Cipullo say. "The buddy system is a good idea," Cipullo10.If you do blow your diet, don't punish yourself and
says, "because the entire family can be on the samedon't end your diet. Every day is a new day.
page. If mom and dad are eating a certain way or