Christmas doesn't have to threaten your weight loss program.

The holidays are often filled with the hustle and bustle of long lines and shopping, the joys of time spent with family and friends, and the overall good feeling that the season brings. But for some dieters, Christmas and other holidays are a nightmare they'd like to wake up from once its over.

Often associated with overindulging, Christmas sometimes tends to send the most earnest dieter into a tailspin somewhere after Halloween. The mere thought of crossing into the holiday season seems to automatically create a mental struggle that simply doesn't have to happen. The following are tips to get you through not only the holidays, but are also good to remember in general.

Diets should not be about what you can't have.

The immediate frame of mind when a person hears the word diet, is restriction. This christmas stimulates a mental sense of longing even before the diet gets underway. Before we begin we're already mourning over what we have to give up or can't have. True dieting should be more about modifying our eating habits than about completely eliminating foods or putting them on the no-no list.

When the holidays roll around, don't start thinking about all the yummy things you can't eat. Instead, consider moderated portions. This helps eliminate the notion of being deprived, yet exercises control of what you eat.

Dieting isn't just about food.

No effective weigh loss program focuses simply on food. Whether cutting fats, carbohydrates, or simply counting calories, food intake is only part of the equation. Proper exercise to help burn calories is required in order to make sure that the weight that comes off stays off. Therefore, a season such as Christmas, does not have to result in an automatic loss in the battle of the bulge. Developing a consistent exercise program along with a sensible eating plan will help allow for the occasional sweet treat without the worry of a significant change in weight.

Guilt adds more pounds than pound cake.

For many dieters, a slip-up or cheat rains a ton of guilt on their heads. Though some combat this by increasing the restrictions on themselves, this is a solution that is generally short-lived. Overexertion as a means to compensate for indulging in an extra piece of something or other, or completely abstaining from a meal, only serves to increase the hunger feeling. This heightened feeling of hunger prompts the urge to eat more and is often followed by the action of doing so. Thus the vicious cycle of guilt-eat-guilt is created. The result can be a serious bout of depression and often weight gain. In order not to fall into that trap, don't punish yourself for a slip-up. If you had an extra piece or indulged in a sweet treat, so be it. Remind yourself that dieting is not about restrictions, it is about eating modification and exercise. So instead of sitting around sulking, drink plenty of water and take a brisk walk around the block. This helps get that metabolism moving and increases the ability to burn those few extra calories before they store themselves as fat.

The main thing to remember during Christmas is that the season is meant to be joyous. It's hard to be joyful when you're beating yourself up, so don't. Remember that dieting is merely a modification of how you used to eat and exercise. It is a lifestyle, not a seasonal change. By keeping a positive attitude and realistic viewpoint, Christmas is a piece of cake.

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