Expect the holidays to be a weighty challenge. The holidays are filled with opportunities to gorge and gain weight. Often this will create tremendous pressure on you, if you prepare for it, you will win the battle against the bulge.

Get support for eating properly. Find a support partner and speak with them daily. Weight loss is best done with the help of a support system, particularly during a stressful time. If you (or him or her) attempt to go it alone, you may not succeed.

Almost all overeating is related to intense emotions. This is particularly true about holiday eating. Holidays bring up feelings of loneliness, family conflict, past hurts and resentments, anger and many other painful emotions. If we combine these stressors with an abundance of comfort food, then we have the perfect weight gaining situation.

If you identify these stressors, you can make productive decisions about how to manage them. If you simply walk into family gatherings unaware of the emotional pitfalls, you can count on having your diet fall apart.

Let family members know that you are working hard to lose weight and that you want their support. Ask them to resist the urge to tempt you to eat food that will throw you off and to provide alternative foods for you. Offer to help the host cook - this will give you the opportunity to introduce your own low-bulge food into the event menu.