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CNN Live At Daybreak
Holiday Help to Keep Us Slim
Aired December 10, 2003 - 06:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: So, what do you want for Christmas? Jewelry? TiVo? Maybe a new Lexus? Don't you hate those commercials? Well, no one wants a few extra pounds, I do know that. But how do you stay slim for the holidays?
Our favorite nutritionist Lisa Drayer live in New York with some holiday help to keep us slim for 2004.
OK, hit us.
LISA DRAYER, NUTRITIONIST: Right. That's right, Carol, the key is to stay slim now. Don't wait till new year's. And it's not that difficult, but a few tips to keep in mind.
The first is keep a food journal. Do you know research shows that those who write down what they eat specifically during the holiday season end up losing weight during this time, whereas those who don't write down what they eat end up gaining weight. Now, this is not to say that you should whip out your pocket notebook at your next holiday party, but if you can at least do this on days when you're not out celebrating, you can avoid weight gain.
Also, walk briskly in the malls. This is a great way to multitask, you know, combine your shopping and your exercise. And just to give you an idea of how effective this can be, over a 30 minute period, if you're walking at a pace of three miles per hour, that's between a leisurely stroll and a very brisk walk, you can burn off the equivalent of six mini candy canes.
And, also, keep snacks handy, whether it's bananas, pretzels or even energy bars. That's going to help you to avoid temptation at the mall food courts when you're shopping and, of course, at the office.
COSTELLO: Good idea.
So what if you're going to that big holiday party, though, Lisa?
DRAYER: Right. There are some other tips to keep in mind that are specific to the party. The first is make sure you eat before you go. You don't want to starve, you're more likely to overeat later on. Also, wear a belt or tight fitted clothes. You're more likely to feel it. But you are more likely to feel it when you've had enough to eat. Focus on talking not eating. Make your party centered around the people, not necessarily the food. Also, pick one dessert. You don't need to deprive yourself, but pick the one you really want to have and limit it at that. And watch the alcohol. Alcoholic holiday beverages can be very caloric. I have the calorie count here. It's about 270 calories for a four ounce eggnog with one jigger of rum.
COSTELLO: Wooh!
DRAYER: So be careful.
COSTELLO: Well, having said all of this, I've often wondered how much weight do people gain, on the average, every holiday season?
DRAYER: Well, here's the good news, Carol, it may not be that much. A recent study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine" actually found that the average weight gain between Thanksgiving and new year's is only about less than a pound on average. But the key is that we tend to keep that pound on, that is, the participants in the study didn't lose that pound a year later.
So although it's not significant, it tends to stay with us. And over the years, it may be a contributing factor to adult obesity.
COSTELLO: That's right. If you're 50, you're 50 pounds heavier.
DRAYER: There you go.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Lisa.
We appreciate it.
DRAYER: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 10, 2003 - 06:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: So, what do you want for Christmas? Jewelry? TiVo? Maybe a new Lexus? Don't you hate those commercials? Well, no one wants a few extra pounds, I do know that. But how do you stay slim for the holidays?
Our favorite nutritionist Lisa Drayer live in New York with some holiday help to keep us slim for 2004.
OK, hit us.
LISA DRAYER, NUTRITIONIST: Right. That's right, Carol, the key is to stay slim now. Don't wait till new year's. And it's not that difficult, but a few tips to keep in mind.
The first is keep a food journal. Do you know research shows that those who write down what they eat specifically during the holiday season end up losing weight during this time, whereas those who don't write down what they eat end up gaining weight. Now, this is not to say that you should whip out your pocket notebook at your next holiday party, but if you can at least do this on days when you're not out celebrating, you can avoid weight gain.
Also, walk briskly in the malls. This is a great way to multitask, you know, combine your shopping and your exercise. And just to give you an idea of how effective this can be, over a 30 minute period, if you're walking at a pace of three miles per hour, that's between a leisurely stroll and a very brisk walk, you can burn off the equivalent of six mini candy canes.
And, also, keep snacks handy, whether it's bananas, pretzels or even energy bars. That's going to help you to avoid temptation at the mall food courts when you're shopping and, of course, at the office.
COSTELLO: Good idea.
So what if you're going to that big holiday party, though, Lisa?
DRAYER: Right. There are some other tips to keep in mind that are specific to the party. The first is make sure you eat before you go. You don't want to starve, you're more likely to overeat later on. Also, wear a belt or tight fitted clothes. You're more likely to feel it. But you are more likely to feel it when you've had enough to eat. Focus on talking not eating. Make your party centered around the people, not necessarily the food. Also, pick one dessert. You don't need to deprive yourself, but pick the one you really want to have and limit it at that. And watch the alcohol. Alcoholic holiday beverages can be very caloric. I have the calorie count here. It's about 270 calories for a four ounce eggnog with one jigger of rum.
COSTELLO: Wooh!
DRAYER: So be careful.
COSTELLO: Well, having said all of this, I've often wondered how much weight do people gain, on the average, every holiday season?
DRAYER: Well, here's the good news, Carol, it may not be that much. A recent study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine" actually found that the average weight gain between Thanksgiving and new year's is only about less than a pound on average. But the key is that we tend to keep that pound on, that is, the participants in the study didn't lose that pound a year later.
So although it's not significant, it tends to stay with us. And over the years, it may be a contributing factor to adult obesity.
COSTELLO: That's right. If you're 50, you're 50 pounds heavier.
DRAYER: There you go.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Lisa.
We appreciate it.
DRAYER: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
