How to Keep from Overeating During the Holidays

Every year you hear the same thing about how people stuffed themselves during the holidays. Everyone sits down at a table full of wonderful food. Two of the holidays where we tend to eat the most come only about a month apart, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and we seem to spend the first part of the year trying to loose the weight we gained. This year, you can take some simple steps to keep yourself from overeating and still enjoy the holidays. One of the best ways may seem counterintuitive at first, eating and drinking.
Make sure you eat a good breakfast right away in the morning. If you don't eat right away in the morning, you are just going to be even hungrier later. The hungrier you are at the meal, the harder it will be to keep yourself from having all those little seconds or that second piece of pie. Also make sure you drink two or three glasses of water before the meal begins. It'll help you to feel more full and you'll be less likely to take as much. Even though you may exercise after the meal, you should also exercise before.
Exercising suppresses your appetite and boosts your metabolism. You don't have to exercise alone. You can go for a walk with some of your family before the meal and also use it as an opportunity to relax and talk. You could also play some sports and get everyone involved. Get a game of volleyball, football, baseball or some other team sport going. Exercise can not only help you eat less, but it can also help you relieve some stress, which can be abundant during the holidays.
A lot of people get stressed during the holidays. There are so many things to do and get, and there doesn't seem to be enough time to get it all done. All that stress can cause you to eat more by eating more "comfort foods" or eating anything that happens to be handy or quick enough, like fast food, no matter how unhealthy it may be.
Try to avoid family conflicts during the holiday, otherwise even more stress will be added to an already stressful time and you'll be more tempted to overeat. Once the holiday has arrived, you should feel free to relax a bit more and spend the time with your family. Not all of the steps have to be taken before the meal begins, some can be taken before too.
Try to eat only 3/4 of the food you have on your plate and don't overload it. That doesn't mean you can't try everything, but take small portions. Also try to avoid taking seconds. Remember that there tends to be plenty of food at holiday gatherings and you can always enjoy the leftovers later. You can also keep a journal of what you've eaten.
It may not seem like much at the time, but each little bit ads up. If you do overeat, don't beat yourself up over it. It doesn't hurt to eat one large meal, you just want to make sure you don't eat multiple large meals. This can have a negative impact on your health in the long run.
These steps are all simple ways you can help to keep yourself from overeating; eating breakfast, drinking plenty of water, exercise, avoiding stress, eating smaller portions, don't take seconds and keep a journal. While food may be a concern during the holidays, it is also important not to let it control your day. Remember that holidays are also a time to relax, spend with your family and enjoy your time together.