Family doctor James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H., publishes James Hubbard's My Family Doctor, a magazine written by health-care professionals for the general public. It provides fun-to-read, in-depth insight and advice on staying healthy, combating disease and learning about how your body works. Topics include nutrition, mental health, children's health and much more.

Dubbed “An Apostle for Fitness” in her profile in the Wall Street Journal, Carole Carson has been a featured guest on more than sixty radio and television shows, including NBC’s Today show, CBS’s Early Show, MSNBC’s Countdown, and CNN News. Carole has been featured in magazines such as American Fitness, Diet & Exercise Magazine, and Today’s Health & Wellness, as well as in newspapers such as the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Carole CarsonTampa Tribune, Sacramento Bee, Baltimore Sun and the Los Angeles Times. Carole’s book, From Fat to Fit, was named a finalist in the health and fitness category of the National Best Books 2007 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News.

Besides teaching and consulting, Carole has produced a weekly community television show, The Tipping Point and a reality show, Go Fat to Fit.

Carole Carson--

Is weight gain during the holidays inevitable? For the answer, I turned to Dr. James Hubbard, a family doctor for over 25 years and the publisher of James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor. My questions and his insight, comments and advice follow.

Carole Carson: Does holiday weight gain become permanent?

James Hubbard: A March 23, 2000, article in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests most does, at least in the people who were studied. The researchers weighed volunteers four times (in mid-November, January, March and September). The average weight gain during the November-to-January holiday season was three pounds. (Volunteers thought they had gained about double that.) Only 10 percent gained more than five pounds, and 50 percent gained two pounds or fewer.

The volunteers gained minimal weight during the other periods of the year, but come the following fall, an average of one pound was still hanging on. Past studies suggest that people gain an average of about a pound a year during adulthood. It was not known, until now, if the weight gain was steady or sporadic.

Carole Carson: How can I prevent the unwanted gift of surplus inches and pounds during the holidays?

James Hubbard: Plan ahead. Be ready to react to situations before they occur. For example, just say no. Whether at work, home or parties, no one is forcing you to imbibe. If you are afraid you will offend the ones offering, respond with a story: “I’m watching my blood pressure” (or sugar or cholesterol—fill in the blank). If the host replies, “Oh, just one won’t hurt,” then reply, “I just ate; I’ll take one with me," (then throw it away) or "My doctor said just one could kill me." Or make up your own story.

Carole Carson: What are the pitfalls of holiday eating and entertaining?

James Hubbard: During the holidays, treats abound. Eat only the ones you really like (in moderation). Don’t try them all. Using a small plate, select your favorite treat, some veggies and water, and get away from that food table. And watch the liquor. It contains hidden calories, makes you hungry and lowers your will power.

Carole Carson: With all the extra demands on my time during the holiday season, I’m tempted to abandon my exercise routine and pick it up next year. What’s your advice?

James Hubbard: If you want to avoid adding weight, keep exercising. In the study cited above, the subjects who reported the most physical exercise gained the least weight. Find creative winter activities such as walks in the mall, skiing, gym activities or indoor swimming that will inspire you to keep moving.

Carole Carson: Can I entertain guests without sabotaging their efforts to stay trim?

James Hubbard: If you throw a party, plan activities other than just food, drink and talk. Add the element of games such as table tennis. Or entertain with a brunch followed by a walk.

Carole Carson: Do I have to watch others indulge while I deprive myself?

James Hubbard: Enjoy the holidays. Enjoy the food. At the same time, remember that you are not a kid anymore. You don’t have to eat until you are stuffed or sick.

Carole--If we don’t want to begin the New Year looking at a higher number on the bathroom scale or begin the holiday season in November 2009 with even more surplus weight, we’d best heed Dr. Hubbard’s excellent advice.

Balance Your Fitness Portfolio on a Shoestring

CDC Broadens Age For Flu Shots In Children

Penny-Wise But Pound-Foolish

Update on Nov 18, 2008 by At Basil & Spice

Reuters!