The holidays are great! We get to celebrate our religious beliefs, take time off from work, consume holiday treats, relax with family and friends, and carry forward special yearly traditions.

However, the holidays also bring the double edged sword of trying to control our spending and our weight!

Many of us take no steps to control holiday spending and are surprised and dismayed when the bill comes in January.  It is typical for American’s to gain a pound during the holidays, BUT THEN WE NEVER LOSE IT.  According to sources, overweight people tend to gain a few more pounds during the holidays.

Just for fun, today we’ll show how controlling spending and controlling weight gain are similar.

Control Spending And Weight By Planning

Just as you make a plan for what you want to spend on holiday shopping, entertainment, travel and food, so too, you can make a plan for what you want to consume during parties and in between.

List out the people for whom you want to buy gifts and the amount you think you might spend on each. Detail the parties you are giving on the list showing each item needed (include food, drinks – alcoholic and non, ice, favors, napkins and cutlery and etc) and it’s cost. Remember to include extra treats you plan to take to work and budget for some known unknowns, like that last minute gift you might want to get for someone who surprises you with one. Don’t forget extra gas or airline tickets/rental cars if you are traveling and things like holiday cards, postage, wrapping paper, portraits and any special clothing you plan to buy for yourself.

List out the parties and get togethers you will be attending by date and time. Identify whether the event will have a meal or snacks and whether it will have alcoholic or otherwise caloric drinks. Put the amount of extra calories you believe you will consume on your calendar so that you can plan to reduce intake the day prior or after.

Control Spending And Weight By Tracking

Just as knowing what you actually spent on an item helps you stick to a budget, studies have shown that dieters who weigh in each day lose weight more successfully than those who don’t. Tracking actuals is important.

As you purchase gifts, entertainment supplies, gift wrap, bows, travel tickets, cards and postage, list out the actual prices you pay for each item. If you are going over in one area, try to adjust in another.

After you attend holiday events, jot down an estimate of the amounts of snacks, foods, and drinks you consumed and then work to compensate for any extra calories you ate or drank. Weigh yourself every day during the holiday period so that you see when you are starting to gain.

Control Spending And Weight By Anticipating

The holidays come every single year. You know they are coming. Why not anticipate the fact by preparing ahead of time?

Start shopping for holiday needs and gifts early so you can compare prices, collect coupons and not be rushed. As you shop, you will use your lists (described above) to keep track of what you spend on each person and each item. Add a note as to where the item is stored and whether it is just wrapped to keep things nice and organized.

When you know you will be heading out to that holiday get together, prep your body be filling up on healthy, low calorie foods before you leave for the party. Take a water to sip to help you avoid the nibbles.

Are you trying to control your holiday spending and weight gain this year? What will you be doing?