'Tis The Season...

By Christine Gorman

Thinking about the upcoming holidays has given me a serious case of mixed feelings. I'm delighted that several of my out-of-town relatives are arriving in December for an extended visit. I'm not so thrilled about all the excess food that's headed my way. My metabolism--never very racy to begin with--downshifted a gear or two once I hit 40. Since then I've learned to pay close attention to what I eat and how much I exercise so I don't consume more calories than I burn.

That's not going to be easy this year. The flood of free food at the office began earlier than ever--starting with leftover Halloween candy. (Some of it, I confess, supplied by me.) I love breaking bread with family and friends and don't think anyone should miss celebrating Hanukkah, Kwanza, Christmas, Id al-Fitr or any other holiday. But let's face it: all it takes to gain one pound is to consume 3,500 more calories than you expend. Spread out over the 40 noshing days between Thanksgiving and New Year's, that's fewer than 90 calories a day, or just one of my favorite Pepperidge Farm Lido cookies--and who can eat just one of those? One pound isn't going to kill anyone, but an extra pound every year for 20 years just might.

This year, I swear, is going to be different. After talking with Nelda Mercer and Diane Quagliani, registered dieticians and spokeswomen for the American Dietetic Association, I've worked out a plan to avoid holiday blimping. If that sounds like a good idea to you, here are a few tips to help see you through the next several weeks:

BE REALISTIC. No one drops waist sizes in November and December. Consider yourself wildly successful if you simply haven't gained any weight by the end of the year.

KEEP MOVING. Exercise is often the first thing that goes in the holiday rush. Aim for at least 30 min. of physical activity (brisk walking, bicycling, swimming) a day, most days of the week. If you don't already exercise regularly, start slowly and build up gradually. Weight training is a great way to kick-start a faltering metabolism, but any exercise will also help relieve stress.

GO DANCING. You'll burn another 200 to 400 calories an hour and have fun doing it.

BE SELECTIVE. Scan the whole buffet table first, then choose only a few items.

TREAT YOURSELF. Don't deny yourself a favorite delicacy. You'll only crave it more. Just keep the portion sizes tiny. Take a bite or two, and savor the memory.

PRACTICE YOUR EXCUSES. My favorites: "I couldn't eat another slice but would love to have the recipe," or "Would you mind if I took some of this home instead?"

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK. If you overindulge today, don't dwell on the lapse. Just do better tomorrow.

DON'T OVERIMBIBE. Here are a couple more reasons not to drink too much: a 4-oz. glass of wine contains 100 calories; a cup of spiked eggnog can easily top 350 calories.

DON'T GET DOWN. A lot of us feel a little blue during the holidays. Keep your spirits up with bubble baths, walks in the woods and maybe even volunteering for a local charity or religious organization.

Remember, this time of year is dedicated to family and friends. Focus on nourishing relationships to make your holidays happier and healthier.

For more on avoiding holiday weight gain, visit time.com/personal E-mail Christine your favorite tips at gorman@time.com