Even though summer is over and many of us feel safe and comfortable having our bodies hidden in our bulky fall and winter sweaters, the holiday “seasonal seven” pounds will soon be here.  Holidays are a time to get together with friends, family, and a time when most will indulge in pumpkin pie, gravy, stuffing, cakes, candies, beverages and  other holiday favorites.

In reality, though, studies show that most people will gain far less. The only problem is that the holidays probably account for much of a person’s annual weight gain over the course of a lifetime, and holiday weight gain is the hardest to reverse.

According to most studies on the subject, the average person gains one to two pounds from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day and only 10 percent of people gained more than five pounds. Those who were the most active had the least gain, and those who were already overweight gained the most.

Having worked for Nutri/System for five years, I found that many women would start a weight loss program in September.  For them it was easier, because the children were back in school, therefore there were less snacks in the house, less eating out, less day time movies and shopping.  In addition, it certainly was easier to find the time to focus on doing things for themselves.

Believe it or not, most people will begin their lifestyle changes now, so they can be healthier and ahead of the holiday game.  Besides, we all have some relatives and friends that we only see once a year, and when we see them we all want to be told how great we look. Right?

Excess weight, of course, is not just a holiday phenomenon. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight and nearly one-third of U.S. adults are obese, according to the National Institutes of Health.

All information in this edition has been gathered from a variety of sources.  You should always check with your physician before starting any weight loss or exercise program to see what is right for you.