Don't stuff, your mama told you. Your mama was smart. Says Andrea Metcalf, a fitness expert in Chicago:

~ Chew gum when entering a party. It freshens your breath, but also makes it less likely you'll start scarfing down that quiche.

~ Don't hit the party with an empty stomach. Fill up on water, tea, and other low-cal fluids as well as a sensible protein-fiber snack before you leave home.

~ Go for the high-protein foods over the high-sugar ones. Fruits and veggies yes; crackers no; mud pie hell no.

~ Eat slowly and chew thoroughly -- i.e., don't do the hors d'oeuvres decathlon just because you think others'll get the good stuff first.

~ Don't loiter around the bar or buffet. Find a comfy sofa and concentrate on catching up on friends, not carbs.

~ Between each alcoholic beverage (and let's hope that means just a couple), fill up on water.

~ If you head for the sweets, do it minimally and on your way out the door so you won't be tempted to have seconds or, er, fourths.

Even if your eating is under control, you'll feel a whole lot better if your exercise is consistent too.

Says Metcalf:

~ Work out on the hour. At the office or at home, when the big hand hits 12 do 12 of something -- 12 jumping jacks, desk lunges, desk pushups, or chair dips. It'll help keep you toned and energized between more ambitious workouts.

~ Outdoor activities burn more calories than inside ones, as your body regulates its temperature in addition to reaching its cardio zone. So put on those running tights, cover those ears, and get out there.

~ If you have a lousy exercise day, don't use that as an excuse to shrug off your fitness goals for the whole holiday season. Work out twice as long the next day -- it'll ease your conscience and make you feel just a little bit like a superhero (though you don't have to tell anyone that part). 

~ If you have engagements two nights in a row, make sure you do a cardio workout both days. It'll keep you feeling spry, and will also regulate your appetite and keep you from becoming the sofa mascot with the bottomless stomach.

~ No matter how self-disciplined you are, sticking to your exercise routine during the holidays is hard. Acknowledge that and plan for it by getting a workout buddy who will reinforce your good intentions and won't call you a pill for eating Egg Beaters instead of drinking egg nog.

~ Catching up with family, partying, watching those stacked up Netflix videos you didn't get to all fall, it's easy to forget a key component of your fitness regimen: sleep! If you can't help burning the candle at both ends, then heck, take an afternoon nap. What are holidays for? Then go out and jog for an hour.