I know what you are thinking. We can’t all be like you Mike. I am never really sure how to answer that because I am far from perfect, regardless of what my wife might tell me. Last night I was out for a function and did not visit the sweets table and someone said: “I wish I had your discipline.”

Well, the reality is that I will splurge during the holidays, probably not as much as some of you, but we all have a choice this time of the year.

The holidays are not about being perfect, but if you want to keep the inches off there are a few strategies you can employ.

I see the holidays as a battle against food and alcohol and I am not going to lose to something that I have total control over.

For the record, I might lose a couple of the battles this time of the year but I will win the war.
Here are a few tips that I hope will help you:

– Self control is one of those skills that can save many great heart aches and, in some cases, heart burn.

A client said the other day that his friends were making fun of him because he was making some healthy choices while they were out socializing.

I truly believe people that do this are setting an example for those around them. At a minimum, you are making the right decision and your friends are just jealous they don’t have your willpower.

– Any form of exercise is better than stopping all together. The reality is that exercise will help keep the pounds off and is also a great way to manage the stress of the holidays. For those of you that have family staying at your house or have that crazy aunt or cousin that visits once a year, exercise can help you ‘deal’ with things that might come up.

Luckily, I don’t have to worry about this.

– Alternate water between your other drinks. This will fill you up so that you are not as reliant on the alcohol or sweet drinks you might have that are loaded with empty calories.

– View socializing and the food that comes with it as a challenge that you need to overcome.
You really do have control over the food that is placed in front of you. Take smaller portions and eat slowly.

– Moderation is the key. You do not need to cut everything out but having everything in one night is a recipe for disaster.

– If you mess up (which many of you will), you are only one day away from getting back on track. No need to beat yourself up over a few miscues or even a major smorgasbord of miscues.

Enjoy the holidays and keep things in perspective, it the best strategy.

Food and alcohol are only one part of the holidays; try not to let them dominate the experience by overindulging every day.

You have control over your actions, so be an example for those around you and show them what they should be doing.