Weight
By Virginia Bola, PsyD, Mon Dec 26th

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The feasting is over. The turkey has disappeared: roasted andhot, microwaved leftovers, then cold sandwiches and eventuallycroquettes or thrown into soup.

You climb on the scale with trepidation and breathe a long sighof relief when the dreaded poundage fails to appear. Before yourelax and think you got away with it, remember that your sneakylittle body is playing its usual tricks. Two or three days ofSpartan eating will make you feel virtuous again -until you stepon the scale and find you've gained 5 pounds. "Fraud" youshriek. "I've been so good!"

Remember the holiday feast? It has finally caught up with you asyou knew, deep down, that it would.

What to do?

We all need brief periods of self-indulgence - it's part of thehuman condition. Expect

a setback on your weight loss goals andlet that knowledge mitigate your disappointment. Then continueon your diet with the assurance that a special occasion blipdoesn't define your future. Enjoy the memories of a familygathering while carefully planning your next week's intake.

Appreciate what you have accomplished so far and avoid loadingyourself down with guilt and self-reproach.

Get back on your program as quickly as possible because (sorryto bring this up now) Christmas is coming and the goose isgetting fat.

About the author:Virginia Bola is a licensed psychologist and admitted dietfanatic specializing in the effects of attitudes and motivationon individual goals. She recently published apsychologically-based workbook, "Diet with an Attitude" whichdevelops mental skills for permanent weight control. Reach herat http://www.DietWithAnAttitude.com/index2.html