Over-40 Tips to Stave Off Holiday Weight Gain

Sure, younger people entertain for the holidays, but for the most part, we're the ones in charge of pulling off the big events. What that means for your waistline is that instead of sweating buckets in a spin class, you're standing in the kitchen up to your elbows in chocolate. But this year, you don't have to resign yourself to extra poundage. These doable strategies won't help you lose weight, but they'll definitely keep you on track until the festivities wind down.

You already know this, but it bears repeating: Your metabolism is a lot slower than it was in your 30s, and every calorie counts.

Eat before the party. Sound counterintuitive? It's not when you consider that eating a low-fat yogurt or half a turkey sandwich on whole wheat can save you from scarfing during the festivities rather than nibbling. "I have no idea why, but my older clients in particular love cheese, wine and nuts," said Jae Berman, a registered dietitian at the San Francisco Bay Club. "Having a light snack prior to the event makes it easier to bypass the hors d'oeuvres part of the festivities." You'll come home having consumed about 500 less calories!

Turn your kitchen into a gym. "Muscle's what keeps your metab revved so any bit of toning you can do makes a difference," said Hollywood trainer Kristin Anderson. Try push-ups against the counter super set with tricep dips. Aim for 20 reps each half hour. Or mix it up by devising rep counts based on how many ingredients are in a dish or the number of recipe servings. Also hit the floor for a few 30-second planks. It's the ultimate calorie burner and ab tightener, and it definitely raises metabolism. For another engine booster, do a few rounds of 20 jump squats. If you can find ten minutes, do all of these as a non-stop circuit. New research, published in Science Translation Medicine found only 10 minutes of brisk activity keeps metabolism revved for an hour.

Crunch while you cook. When you're cooking, it's so easy to succumb to the heaps of delicious dishes around you. Instead, have baby carrots on hand and burn a chocolate-scented candle. "Believe it or not, snacking on sweet, crunchy carrots combined with the smell of chocolate will make you feel completely satiated," said Anderson.

Another great tip -- no matter how old you are -- is to wear slim-fitting clothes to parties so you're aware of your waistline. And carry a travel toothbrush. "When you don't want to eat or drink any more, use the ladies' room to brush your teeth and re-apply lipstick. This helps you resist the urge to have 'just one more,'" suggested Anderson.

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