Everyone knows to watch their eating during the holiday season, but experts say that the average American gains 7-13 pounds between Thanksgiving and Jan. 2.After several indulgent weeks filled with fruit cake, pumpkin pie and holiday cookies, most of us will be hiding muffin tops under our Christmas sweaters by the time Santa jiggles his pudgy self down the chimney.
And then January will set in, and so will the shame.
Losing weight and getting fit are among the Top 10 resolutions Americans make each year, according to the U.S. government. And no wonder. ‘Tis the season to be carb-loaded.
“It’s not the actual holiday that gets us in trouble,” said Robin Darling, registered dietitian at Memorial Hospital. “It’s the six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day where we’re constantly being bombarded with food.”
But what if it could be different? What if you didn’t have to gain an elf’s worth of weight every holiday season? What if you could avoid elastic-waist pants?