Holiday Advice from The South Beach Diet Doc

With tempting treats always just an arm's reach away, the holiday season can be a challenging time to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you're currently in Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet®, consider this advice from Dr. Arthur Agatston, preventive cardiologist and author of The South Beach Diet®:

Try shifting to Phase 2 of the South Beach Diet® for the duration of the holiday season. "After years of treating patients, I've learned that the more realistic goal this time of year is to simply maintain your weight," he explains. Just apply the basic principles and eating strategies of Phase 2 — including lean proteins, the right carbs (fiber-rich whole grains and nutrient-dense fresh fruits and vegetables), low-fat or nonfat dairy products, and the right fats (including extra-virgin olive and canola oils) — to your holiday eating habits whenever possible.

And since the South Beach Diet® is a lifestyle, in addition to the delicious foods that are the staples of the healthy eating plan, you can also enjoy an occasional indulgence (like a piece of dark chocolate or a few bites of your mom's prize pumpkin pie) every once in a while.

You can also make your own South Beach Diet®-friendly celebratory dishes, many of which can be found in Dr. Agatston's new book, The South Beach Diet® Parties & Holidays Cookbook. In addition to holiday meals and desserts, the book contains 150 delicious and nutritious recipes to celebrate every special occasion.

The most important thing to remember at this time of year: Don't try to lose weight. Instead, focus on maintaining your current weight and let yourself enjoy the holidays. Then, as soon as January 1 rolls around, return to Phase 1 to get your cravings under control and kick-start your weight loss, or stay in Phase 2 for long-term weight loss and improved health.