Another day, another article on holiday weight loss tips. I love to find creative ways to cut calories and increase activity during the most fattening time of the year. So, here are 10 great tips that will prevent you from gaining weight over the holidays:

1. Limit your intake of calorie laden beverages. Eggnog, champagne, mochas, and hot chocolate all have one thing in common: they are packed with empty calories - avoid these beverages and load up on water instead.

2. Officially schedule exercise into your calendar. It's just too easy to let workouts slide this time of year - make a commitment to exercise and keep it.

Editor's Note: There will not be a new post on Thursday, November 27. We wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

"I don't have time" is the reason that most people don't exercise. Well, they call it a "reason." I like to call it what it really is - an excuse. Most people believe their workouts need to be 60-90 minutes in order to really count. With this kind of time commitment it is no wonder that exercise becomes the activity that you simply don't have time for.

Before you know it one missed workout becomes two and soon you realize that you haven't put on your gym shorts for a month. Missed exercise is a slippery slope toward irreversible consequences. Obesity wasn't gained in one day…or even in one year. Neither was heart disease. Question: Have you ever wondered if long workouts really deliver the best results?

The truth is that exercise doesn't have to take 60-90 minutes anymore. The experts agree that short, intense bouts of exercise can actually deliver better results than traditional low intense exercise.

It's that time of year again - holiday season! Here's something to look forward to: between Turkey day and the New Year the average person will gain between 7 and 10 pounds. The good news is that you can avoid these additional pounds with a little know how. For most of us the holiday pounds start with Thanksgiving dinner. Did you know that the average person consumes around 3,500 calories on this day alone? Yikes. That equals one pound in extra calories - not to mention the leftovers you will be eating days afterward. Use these tips to make Thanksgiving a guilt-free day this year:

Tip #1: Take Two Steps to Start Your Day Right.
Step One: Eat breakfast. You see, most people skip breakfast on Turkey day in order to 'save room' for the feast - maybe you have done this yourself. When you eat a healthy breakfast that is high in both fiber and protein two great things happen.
*Your metabolism is started early in the day, thus catapulting you into full fledged calorie burning mode. This will come in handy later in the day.
*You won't be famished when you sit down for dinner, so you will have less room to binge. (This means fewer calories land on your waist.)

Step Two: Exercise for 30-60 minutes. I know exercise is the last thing on your mind on a busy holiday, however it is worth your effort. You will negate some of the extra holiday calories and your metabolism will climb even higher.

Tip #2: Lighten the Menu
If you're in charge of the menu this year then you are in luck. As chef you can make a few modifications to the meal that will drastically reduce the fat and calorie intake of each guest. Do the following to lighten your feast: