Survey finds Americans use ineffective methods to avoid holiday weight gain

1. For those striving to maintain a healthy lifestyle, holiday celebrations can feel like a minefield of dietary pitfalls, bound to derail the progress you've made through diet and exercise the rest of the year. In fact, a new national survey by Orlando Health finds nearly two in five (39%) Americans worry about how much they eat over the holidays. Do you worry about how much you eat over the holidays?

2. The survey also found the measures many take to combat overindulgence and holiday weight gain may be misguided, putting pressure on themselves to overcorrect for a few holiday treats. For example, 25% of respondents believe they should skip meals to save calories before a holiday gathering, something Sara Riehm, RD, LD/N, CSOWM, a specialty registered dietitian at the Orlando Health Center for Health Improvement, says can actually lead to binging on more calories when you finally eat. Another common misconception is that we need to "detox" or "cleanse" our bodies after having foods deemed unhealthy, something the survey found a third (33%) of people feel they need when the holidays are over. Riehm says, not only are these tactics ineffective, but they can be potentially harmful. Have you ever done either of these?