Unwanted holiday pounds can be avoided

Greg Burghardt

Eating and drinking in moderation are the keys to keeping off extra weight this holiday season.

“Keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of water,” said Commerce Twp. senior Jen Maida, who is majoring in dietetics.

She said there are three steps people can follow to help keep off unwanted weight.

“First, be aware that (holidays) are a time when people are more likely to overeat. Don’t skip meals, because you will be more hungry and end up overeating. Next, make sure to eat a small breakfast to put off being hungry. This will help to avoid overeating throughout the day,” Maida said.

The third step, she said, is to be active.

“Going shopping, walking around the mall, playing with the dog and just normal everyday activities will help you be more active and burn more calories,” Maida said. “Try to avoid lying around watching football all the time.”

Maida’s advice is Clio junior Josh Brewster’s style.

“I don’t really exercise, but I am always on the move. I live on a golf course, so if the weather is nice, I golf outside. I also go to indoor golf ranges and ski,” he said.

Ty Keyser, Harrison junior, said exercise is not his style, but that he does other things to burn calories.

“I don’t do too much. I just go skiing and play in my band,” he said.

Maida said there are certain things people do during the holidays that have negative results.

“A common mistake people make is to deprive themselves of food, and this will backfire most of the time,” she said. “When these people do consume, they will probably eat more. When they give in, they will indulge because they figure they have already failed.”

Dehydration is another factor to overeating.

“Try to be hydrated before the meal,” Maida said. “People who are dehydrated often can’t differentiate between hunger and thirst.”

Detroit senior LaJuani Kaii Winston and Detroit junior DeAndra Smith are two students who do not worry about overeating during the holidays.

“It’s not a big deal to me,” Smith said. “I feel if you have good eating habits and exercise during the year then you can indulge during the holidays, and vice-versa.”

Winston, who does not exercise regularly, said she does not easily gain weight, and the holidays are not an exception.

“I don’t really gain weight from overeating,” she said. “I walk a lot right now, but don’t do any extra exercise.”

Maida said another thing people — especially college students — have to monitor is alcohol consumption.

“Alcohol in general is empty calories, whether it’s beer, wine or liquor. Typically there are more calories in beer than in liquor,” she said. “Empty calories have a low nutritional content and are often turned into fat.”

She said that 12 ounces of regular beer has 150 calories, while a light beer of the same size has 110 calories. The average .5 ounce shot of liquor contains about 100 calories, depending on the proof.

The key is to try to have things in moderation, Maida said.

“Do not try to avoid any food groups and for a dessert. Try to find one with lower fat content and fewer calories,” she said. “Also, eat your meals more slowly then you normally would. You will be more likely to eat less, and enjoy your meal more.”