Let's bring to light some TRUTH about this topic because I don't believe many people do. Marketing agency's, gyms and fad diets are all capitalizing on your fears this time of year so this is my attempt to keep them at bay.

This time of year we often blame our weight gain on those binges. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years or maybe just a bad weekend just killed all your good behavior right?!? We generally feel that our diet is good but then that binge hits and that's where problems occur. Sorry, it's NOT TRUE. 

One pound of fat theoretically represents 3,500 calories which means your 5 pound weight gain over a "bad weekend" is about 17,500 calories. That's impossibly tough to do even if you picked the worst foods to eat. The truth is your pattern of eating has gotten worse over TIME and now it's finally showing itself. 

Fun fact: if you consume 100 extra calories per day, in a year you will gain 10 pounds. Makes you re-think those 'healthy' low calorie snacks (generally 100 calories) doesn't it? 

SOLUTION: Look you don't have to really work about the math above, simply start making small daily decisions towards a healthier you. Decisions that could almost go unnoticed, have a compound effect and don't really change your daily lifestyle. For example park a little further and take the stairs; dressing on the side; a few less bites of those carbs you shouldn't be eating and BOOM we're looking at a 100 calorie deficit and you haven't really changed all that much. An easy way to lose 10 pounds in a year.

The point is your long term patterns are affecting your results, not that bad weekend or two. Now if every weekend is bad... well there you go. And if you hear of someone losing weight FAST, generally it's water weight not fat weight so don't be fooled. THINK ABOUT IT.

***Post was paraphrased and inspired from "Dare to Win" by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (p. 156)