If you’re like most, you enjoyed a festive and food-filled Thanksgiving and now it’s on to planning for the December holidays. Whether it’s Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza or Festivus, undoubtedly calorie-laden goodies are in the mix- and headed for your stomach. So while it may not be a good time to be watching your weight, it is important to understand why the extra pounds matter going forward, and what you can do to lessen the load, especially as you get older. Even a few additional pounds make an unfortunate difference.

First, let’s bust the myth that getting older inevitably means gaining weight. That’s simply not true. It is a fact that as you get older, your muscle mass decreases, which lowers your metabolism, which means you burn fewer calories and thus potentially put on weight. But this is neither inevitable nor unstoppable if you incorporate exercise and activities, strength building, and calorie counting into your daily routines. So before you put on the pounds, put on your reading glasses and take a look at these agebuzz helpful resources for weight management. 

But many of us have poor insight into our weight problems or limited capacity to stick with a weight management plan. While a recent Gallup poll confirms that more Americans weigh over 200 lbs. than was the case a decade ago, fewer respondents felt they were overweight or needed to lose weight. Another recent study out of Tulane University found that Americans who wanted to lose weight were by and large (no pun intended) in a lost battle, as obesity rates are rising and pounds are not dropping off. 

So what to do? Clearly, whatever combination of burning and limiting calories you choose has to be a plan you can stick with for the long run. Everyone’s level of tolerance and enjoyment is different. But for the immediate holiday season’s temptations? Take a look at Harvard Health’s advice to avoid weight gain over the holidays– and substitute the herbal tea for the eggnog if you can!