Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
After a month of parties, cookies, feasts and food gifts, how do you get your diet back on track for the new year? Nutrition experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say you should resist the temptation to starve yourself to make up for all the overindulgence.
If you put on weight over the holidays, it's probably fat. Starving yourself will make you lose muscle mass, which will slow your metabolism and make it even harder to lose weight.
To get yourself back on track, stock your kitchen with nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, lean meats and low-fat dairy products. Take any leftover goodies to the office to share. Keep a food journal so you'll know just what you're eating. Start with one or two initial goals that will be easy to reach, like switching to lower-fat dairy products.
Next on Healthwatch: The resolution you probably haven't considered.
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Dec. 2004
