Help from friends can control weight gain
An article by Various Sources
Posted December 4, 2007 ’Tis the season to be jolly.
Unfortunately, it’s the season to be fatter, too.
According to Amy Snyder, a registered dietitian with Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, several factors contribute to an increased risk for weight gain during the holiday season.
On average, a person may gain up to 11 pounds during the winter and holiday season, Snyder said this week.
“There are many reasons why people tend to gain weight this time of year,” she said. “One reason is that we tend to get less exercise. With Daylight Saving Time, it gets dark earlier and it’s cold outside, so people tend to spend more time indoors.”
Another major diet-buster is the plethora of holiday festivities — parties and holiday gatherings, tins of homemade cookies and candy at the office and the many other opportunities to overindulge in rich, sweet and fat-laden goodies, she said.
“People are eating out more. They’re busier this time of year and grabbing fast food,” Snyder said. “More people are going on vacation this time of year. It all adds up.”
The celebratory mood of the season also tempts some of us to “talk ourselves” into overeating, she added.
“People get caught up in the celebration and they may tend to let themselves go more. They tell themselves, ‘Go ahead and enjoy yourself, you’ll lose the weight after New Year’s,’ ” she continued.
Still, there’s hope.
“If you just use a little more planning and are a little more aware of what you’re eating during the holidays, you won’t have to struggle so hard to lose the weight later,” she said.,
For Ann Marie Blackwell, Primrose, this isn’t her first bout with the holiday bulge.
Her already busy life gets even more hectic this time of year and her healthy eating and exercise goals are often sabotaged in the holiday rush, she said.
“I work full time and I’m a mother, grandmother, caregiver and wife. And on top of all my responsibilities, I’m even busier during the holidays, running around, trying to get everything done.”
So, she usually ends up “grabbing something quick to eat,” she said.
“Usually, it’s fast food and it’s not always healthy. And because I don’t have a lot of time, I don’t exercise.”
However, this year, she has a game plan. Blackwell is relying on a little help from some newfound friends for weight maintenance and to reach her fitness goals.
She recently joined a new weight management support and education group at Good Samaritan, which brings together people who have common goals — managing their weight and eating healthier.
“It helps to be with other people who are dealing with the same problems you’re going through,” Blackwell said. “We can get together and share ideas and what works and didn’t work for us in losing weight. Being in a group like this gives you the extra support and encouragement you need to help you reach your goal. And it’s only once a month, so even I can fit that into my busy schedule.”
Of course, participants are expected to exercise more than once monthly.
Snyder, the group leader, meets with the class once a month and is planning to start another class in February.
For a $30 annual membership, the two-hour class consists of one hour of learning and discussion, a lecture featuring timely topics, one hour of exercise, indoors and/or outdoors, weather permitting, and a healthy recipes exchange.
Sometimes, just advising family and friends of your weight loss goals will help alleviate some of the burden of temptation at parties and get-togethers, Snyder said.
“If you’re at a party, focus more on the fun, not the food,” She said. “Bring a healthy dish with you to make sure that there’s something you can eat.
“And remember, it’s OK to say no.”
BY MARIA HERNE
STAFF WRITER
mherne@republicanherald.com
