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# Do’s and don’ts of avoiding weight gain during holidays
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/dos-and-donts-of-avoiding-weight-gain-during-holidays/
- Published: 2003-12-02T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:17:23.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Events, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*HOLIDAY WEIGHT, from page 3 Tips on holiday weight gain*

*By Daily Press staff*

Now that Thanksgiving is over and there’s still more than a month of holiday festivities, the risk of bulging at the seams is even more present.

Local personal trainers and fitness experts have teamed up to compile a list of the top five fitness mistakes people make over the holidays. In addition to the list, the experts offer tips on how to avoid the holiday weight gain and fitness traps, as well as advice on how to jump start the No. 1 New Year’s resolution — to lose weight.

The top five holiday mistakes are: 1\. Going gung-ho after years of sitting on your rear end. 2\. Helping yourself to seconds … and thirds. 3\. Going on a diet during the holidays. 4\. Doing too much cardio and absolutely no strength training. 5\. Setting unrealistic fitness goals. “Avoiding these common mistakes made by millions each holiday season is simple,” said Misty Tripoli, fitness program director for Bodies in Motion. “Although staying on track can be very difficult with all of the holiday parties and food, remembering a few simple tips can make a huge difference.”

While you may not lose any weight this holiday season, at least you’ll be able to maintain your weight and hopefully feel good about yourself if you follow these tips and avoid these commonly made holiday mistakes. ■“Sedentary people are at greater risk for injury than people who workout regularly. It’s best to ease yourself into a fitness routine if it’s been a while since you last worked out. Jumping in with both feet at full force may feel like the right thing to do after not being active for long periods of time, but you may be putting yourself at harm without even realizing it. You should remember to warm up your muscles by stretching before you begin your workout and to stretch following as well. Most importantly, check with your physician before you begin any exercise regimen,” said Howie Skora, personal trainer at Bodies in Motion. ■“Holiday binge eating is a big problem. The office is full of goodies, there are tons of holiday parties and with family get-togethers. A person has to try to be aware of when it’s time to stop eating. If you put your fork down between bites and thoroughly chew, it will provide your brain with enough time to respond to your stomach’s cue of when you are truly full. This way you will not feel the urge to go back for seconds or thirds,” adds Skora. ■“The average person gains eight to 10 pounds during the holidays. It is not about going on a diet, rather making wise choices. Many people bake goodies to give to others and while making them, they sample the product. Why not give out candles or gift certificates, instead of baked goodies? Not only will you save yourself from tasting the treats, but you will save whom ever you intended to give the goodies to. It’s all about portion control and smart choices,” said Tripoli. ■“Set a routine. Don’t try to push yourself too hard. Alternate days of doing cardio and strength training. You will find that you will be much more satisfied with the results if you mix the two. It will help increase your metabolism and boost your results. Don’t let fitness take a back seat in Santa’s sleigh,” said Laura Christy, a personal trainer. ■“We all know that the holidays are busy and we often have little time to ourselves, so why not plan ahead and set goals that are attainable? Try not to get too caught up in the holidays. When you go to the gym, take a crack at interval training. You can also shop online to save time. It’s important to remember to take care of ourselves during the holidays,” adds Christy.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 2, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/120203.pdf?ref=smdp.com)