Thanksgiving is almost upon us. Most of enjoy this time of year, but those of us trying to lose those extra pounds have some mixed feelings.

For me it’s not the actual meal. I’m not a big fan of turkey and while I like stuffing and the other usual sides they’re not my personal kryptonite. My weakness is the hourderves. Everyone brings their favorite sinful treat. You have the cookies, the candies, the brownies, the chex mix (thanks Ivy), the dips of various flavors and the crackers that go along with them (damn you Ritz!).

These foods are a problem for two reasons. First, there’s no concept of quantity: everything you eat is picked up in bite-size portions so unless you’re keeping a tally sheet on a napkin alongside your drink, you have no idea how much you’ve consumed. Second, these are the tatiest foods ever. That’s the point, right? Everyone is going to bring the best thing they can come up with so the party-goers will praise their kitchen prowess.

Personally, the biggest win has been making sure I put my tasty selections on a plate. That way I can see how much I’m eating and I can toss the plate when I’m done. Usually if I start out on the tasty stuff people brought I’m good to go when the main course is served.

The articles below have some great ideas and we’ll talk about them on the next episode:

• Tips to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
• Lose Weight while Cheating Away those Holiday Pounds!