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THE AVERAGE PERSON puts on some extra pounds in the six weeks between the Thanksgiving holiday and the New Year. Unfortunately, weight gained in a short six weeks may take six months to lose. And if you had already been trying to shed a few pounds, putting on that holiday weight can really give you the blues. Take heart. Adding pounds during the holidays is not inevitable. You can enjoy your holiday meals and still face that scale with pride by the New Year. One way you can do that is by moving your resolution date up two months and making a November Resolution to “maintain; not gain” this holiday season. Consider these resolutions: MAKE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PART OF YOUR DAILY LIFE A major contributor to weight gain during holidays is sedentary living. Holiday schedules are tight and exercise schedules are often sacrificed to make time. Don’t make that trade-off this year and pledge to keep moving. PRIORITIZE HEALTHY EATING Dieticians agree that the best way to manage weight is to modify eating habits in such a way that you never feel deprived. Choose foods that you actually enjoy that are also lower in fat, sugar, and calories. Feel free to fill your plate at holiday feasts, but select fresh fruits, salad greens, and filling veggies instead of sugary desserts, fried foods, mountains of breads, or starchy entrees. You can still eat the “other” foods you enjoy, but take a smaller portion. Here are some more ideas for keeping trim during the holidays.