Over-indulge? 5 Things NOT to do

Eat a little too much Thanksgiving dinner? Reader’s Digest reports these five things that can derail your attempts to get back on track.

1. Avoid the scale for a couple of days. Your weight can fluctuate from day to day as much as two pounds in water weight alone. Why put yourself through the torment of seeing a higher number on the scale? Focus instead on having a healthy day.

2. Don’t skip breakfast. Going without breakfast pretty much guarantees you’ll eat a bigger lunch or dinner. Have a little fruit and cottage cheese, a piece of toast with peanut butter, or a bowl of oatmeal and berries.

3. Don’t go crazy at the gym. Jumping into a too-intense workout can raise your risk of getting injured. But don’t loaf either: Take a brisk walk to help with digestion and soothe the bloated feeling.

4. Don’t skimp on sleep. A new Columbia University study found that people are more likely to crave junky food, like pepperoni pizza, cake and cheeseburgers, on four hours of sleep than they are on eight hours. Get a good night’s snooze the night of and after you overeat, to avoid getting in a bad eating cycle.

5. Never say “never again.” One of the worst things after a day of less-than-ideal eating is to make any absolute food promises. Research shows that the best weight-loss plans allow for some indulgence in moderations. The best thing you can do is just get back to your usual eating habits.