With all of the sweet treats, celebratory drinks and festive parties during the holidays, preventing weight gain in November and December can be challenging at best. But it’s not impossible. And believe it or not, it is feasible to actually LOSE weight during the holidays.

Tracy Heckman did just that. Tracy, a Fat Trimmer, took the Weight Management Genetic Test in June 2010 and hasn’t looked back since. By following the recommendations provided in her test results, Tracy was actually able to lose weight over the holidays, adding to a grand total of 56 pounds she has lost since taking the test. Quite remarkable!

Tracy has graciously shared some of her tips for staying on track through the holidays – or anytime temptation waits – with Daily Swab readers. Whether you are traveling on vacation, just starting the diet or about to head to a special gathering, these tips from Tracy will keep you on track!

Tracy’s Tips

• The key factor that kept me on track was that prior to the holidays I had already established a habit of consistent exercise and proper nutrition. With that mindset, I was unable to just “let it go” because it was the holidays.

• Plan ahead. My days vary from day to day. So in order to avoid temptation, I look at my schedule ahead of time to make sure I have all the necessary items in place to ensure success.

• Pack a snack. One easy thing I did during the holidays to prevent weight gain was make sure I had a snack bar with me at all times. If I was out and about shopping for holiday gifts and suddenly got those hunger urges, I had a healthy snack with me so I wouldn’t end up in a not-so healthy restaurant.

• Eat beforehand. If I was going to someone’s house for a holiday gathering, I would be sure to either eat a proper meal beforehand or bring healthy food with me. This ensured that I wouldn’t cave to unhealthy foods when hunger struck.

• Don’t deprive yourself. Now I’m not saying that I didn’t have a cookie or two during the holidays. But I knew I could have a small taste and be satisfied. I wasn’t depriving myself of anything because I had my weight loss goal in mind.

• Make exercise a priority. Over the holidays, I also planned my daily exercise routine and followed up with consistent action. This prevented me from throwing it aside with an excuse. My thought was if I didn’t do it, it wouldn’t get done. Tomorrow is too late.

Did you successfully maintain or lose weight over the holidays? Tell us about it! Share you strategies for staying on track.