It takes a superhuman effort to say no to everything you'll be offered in the coming weeks, so instead, try for moderation. Follow these guidelines and you'll ensure minimal damage

Guideline No. 1: Portion control is everything.
Many people lose weight and keep it off with the simple strategy of portion control. Eliminating or even limiting certain foods is brutally hard during the holidays. So do the next best thing: Eat reasonably small portions, limit the foods you know you should limit, and don't stuff yourself.

Guideline No. 2: The next best thing to behaving perfectly is behaving well.
Most of us know by now what our 'trigger' foods are and the effects certain foods have on our mood, appetite and energy. If you can't abstain from problem foods all of the time during the holidays, abstain from them most of the time. 'Most of the time' is a lot better than 'none of the time.'

Guideline No. 3: Get off the diet mentality.
This is the corollary of Guideline No. 2. If you think of yourself as being 'on' or 'off' a diet, you're going to get into trouble. Why? Because as soon as you go off, you go off, as in 'deep end.' Don't set yourself up for this disaster. A taste of Aunt Goldie's pie doesn't mean you've 'sinned' and definitely doesn't mean 'What the heck, I might as well eat the whole thing.'

Guideline No. 4: Don't skip meals.
A common strategy during the holidays is to skip breakfast - and lunch - because you know a big meal is coming, so you 'save up' the calories for the celebration. This strategy backfires, because you come to the meal starving and end up eating way more than you ever intended. Which leads us to ...

Guideline No. 5: Never arrive hungry.
You know what foods you need to stay away from. Well, those foods are a lot harder to resist when you're starving and your blood sugar is in the pits. An ounce of prevention goes a long way here. A glass of tomato juice, some whole-grain crackers, a slice or two of cheese or a rice cake with some peanut butter will keep your appetite at bay. Try any of them an hour or so before the big holiday dinner and watch your willpower soar while your waistline stays in place.

Guideline No. 6: Go to the buffet line with a small plate.
A full salad plate looks like a lot of food and psychologically 'feels' the same way. You can always go back for seconds, or even thirds; but all of this slows down the eating process, giving you more time to feel full. And more often than not, the larger portions of food you would have eaten if they had been on your plate will wind up staying on the buffet table.

Guideline No. 7: Bring snacks while shopping.
Prowling the mall for hours leaves everyone starving and vulnerable to the usually bad fast-food choices. If you come prepared to roam around with some crunchy, healthy snacks such as celery, carrots, or even nuts - just don't scarf down fistfuls of peanuts - you'll be less likely to succumb to the call of the food court.

Guideline No. 8: Replace sweet with spicy.
Cravings for sweets sometimes evaporate when you put something pickled or spicy in your mouth. It's okay to indulge the occasional sweet craving, but eat something spicy or pickled first and you may find you no longer want to.

Guideline No. 9: Be sure it's not thirst.
Many times when we crave food, it's not really hunger that's driving the urge, it's mild dehydration. So drink tons of water. A slice of orange, lemon or lime will flavour the water and cut your cravings; flavoured non-caloric seltzers accomplish the same thing.

Guideline No. 10: Finish your big holiday meals within an hour of starting.
The body produces a second insulin hit if it senses a lot of food coming in continuously. You can avoid that second hit (and the subsequent fat storage that it triggers) by finishing within an hour of starting. If you see something you like that you forgot to eat within the hour, that's fine; just save it for tomorrow. It'll still be there, and you won't be wearing it on your hips.

Guideline No. 11: Begin each meal with a salad.
It fills you up, provides fibre and is a wonderful alternative to bread.

Guideline No. 12: Divide your plate into thirds.
Think protein, vegetables and the carbohydrates you probably crave. Imagine that your plate is divided into thirds, one section for each food group. The carb section has to include not only the starchy carbs that are staples of holiday dinners but the desserts too. So if you're going to eat dessert, adjust your portion of the other carbs accordingly. Together the 'meal' carbs and dessert carbs should make up about one-third of the holiday meal.

Guideline No. 13: Fibre is your secret weapon.
Not only is fiber supremely healthy and directly related to the reduction of risks for a whole host of diseases, it is a huge player in the weight-loss field. It also contributes to a feeling of fullness.

Guideline No. 14: Plan ahead.
During the holidays, try to plan around where you're going, what temptations are likely to arise and how you're going to deal with them. Decide in advance what you're going to allow yourself, but prepare for it so you don't go overboard. Don't be afraid to taste things without finishing them.

Guideline No. 15: Eat slowly.
Hormones signal the brain when you're full, but it takes about 20 minutes from start time before you feel it. Slow eating not only aids in digestion but also gives your brain a chance to know what the stomach is doing. If you make the meal last, by talking, putting down your fork between bites or just plain waiting, you're less likely to eat on 'automatic pilot' and more likely to realise you're full.