Gaining weight is one of the biggest let-downs of the holiday season. With all the excitement, tight schedules and even stress, it can be frustrating to step out on the other side of the holidays up to five pounds heavier than you were at the beginning.

Equally, after spending so much time indoors with lots of people, drinking booze and not quite reaching our ideal nutrition, that extra weight can be made worse with a cold or flu. Getting sick at this time of year can feel inevitable. That said, by taking the right steps, you’ll be able to prevent catching certain illnesses or at least reduce their length and severity if they happen.

Stop Yourself from Gaining Weight or Falling Ill

There are lots of tips and tricks you can use to prevent yourself from gaining weight. Fortunately, many of them also contribute to overall wellness to stop yourself from falling ill, as well. Take good care of yourself with these tips and you’ll enjoy the holiday season – and the start of next year – with far less unnecessary stress.

Tip 1 – Stay Fit as a Family

It’s a lot easier to exercise when you get everyone involved. Involve your family in your workout habits, and you’ll all prevent yourselves from gaining weight at the same time. You’ll also reduce your stress levels (since exercise reduces stress), keeping your immune system running at its best levels.

Tip 2 – Snack Healthfully (and prepare snacks in advance)

If you prepare healthy snacks in advance, you’ll be able to grab them to refuel just as easily as you could grab a cookie or heavy leftovers from a holiday meal. Simply making sure you’re eating the right foods for your snacks will keep you energized, will boost your nutrition, and stop you from gaining weight.

Tip 3 – Be the Healthy Pot Luck Contributor

If you’re attending a pot luck party or are attending a dinner at someone’s home, bring your tastiest healthy side dish to contribute. That way, you’ll know that at least one thing will be nutritious and weight friendly. You’ll be able to stay on track and prevent gaining weight if at least part of your meal is light and nutritious.

Tip 4 – Water, Water Everywhere

Hydrating at this time of year is equally as important as it is during the summer. You’ll prevent weight gain both by staying energized and enjoying water’s appetite suppressant benefits. That said, you’ll also prevent the appearance of gaining weight by avoiding constipation and bloating through adequate hydration throughout the entire holiday season.