It's so fun to pack thousands of sprinkles on a single cookie, create the perfect tree and shop, shop, shop. When you think about it, we are actually really active during the holidays. Yes, we eat a lot of fat and sugar but we move a lot, too. Caring a child on one hip while shopping for one hour can burn 207 calories. Cooking for one hour can burn 167 calories. Moderate housework will burn 242 calories in one hour. And we don't gain us much as you'd think during the holidays. According to the National Institute of Health, we average a one-pound weight gain, so don't get overly focused on the junk you may be eating. It's probably not going to ruin a year of good habits.

Feel the Holiday Burn Yes, we consume more calories during the holidays, but we expend more calories, too. It's all about balance! Winter Treats and Approximate Caloric Value Starbucks tall Latte with Breve Milk 440 Hot chocolate 330 Eggnog 240 Three chocolate chip cookies 234 Wine 100 Beer 150 Fudge 70 One gumdrop 13 One caramel 40 Mini milk chocolate candy bar 38 Winter Activities and Approximate Calories Burned per Hour Skiing 414 Cross-country skiing 552 Walking hills 314 Snowshoeing 555 Sledding 483 Pilates 345 Planting the garden 311 Painting 321 Vacuuming 242 Packing suitcases 221 Shopping with child 207 Cooking 167

The trick is to remain realistic. Give yourself credit for your activity level while carefully looking at what is passing through your teeth. When thinking about balancing fat and fitness for the holidays, think in chunks of time, not one day. Some days will just not permit a run with the dog and some days may be spent on the ski slopes.

I like to think in blocks of four or five days. I call it Chunk Treatment. I purposely group together more active days with less active days. My days at home are always more active, but when I'm at my folks' place, I usually have pies, puddings and pastries glaring in my direction with their sweet little eyes. When I blow it at my parents' house it's not such a psychological and physiological disaster because I can consider what I did before I got there and what I'll be doing when I leave again.

The opposite is also true. If you are planning a ski trip, that doesn't mean that binge eating is alright. What are you going to be doing when you get home? For most of us the exercise level will drop considerably.

Here's a closer look at Chunk Treatment. Imagine that Friday night's holiday party will include a lot of extra eating and imbibing. Take your regular caloric intake and add on top of that eggnog (240 calories), cheesecake (256 calories), a handful of Chex mix (120) and a teeny piece of fudge (70 calories). That's 686 extra calories. For an average woman that's more than a quarter of her usual intake of about 2,000 calories a day. But let's say you kept with your regular routine that day plus you were cleaning for the arrival of guests. Take 242 calories off of 686 (we're down to 444 calories that are not needed). Combine your party day with the day before. On Thursday, your workout was longer than usual (that'll be an extra 190 calories off of the remaining 444, thank you very much). Now think back to Wednesday, when you started a new family tradition of cutting down your own Christmas tree. That fun event used about 250 calories to chop, haul and get your tree into the house. Even if you were the one who was watching, I'm sure you are "gifted" extra calories burned just for listening to all the cussing!

Want to hear the good news? Friday night's 686 extra calories has now dropped to four. Do a couple of shoulder shrugs and we'll call it even.

It's very helpful to think about your higher levels of alternate activities. You may not be at the gym but what are you doing? You are probably pruning the yard, putting new plants in, scrubbing floors, painting walls, chopping down Christmas trees, playing more with the kids, and running all over town twice as much as usual. You might have a trip to the snow planned. Maybe some sledding or skiing? Have you ever tried snowshoeing?

The holidays are wonderful, but how many people feel worn out after they are over? There's a reason besides the after-effects of too much alcohol, fat and sugar. You are simply cramming more into a single day. You are eating more but you really are doing more. Your job is to keep a balance. Statistically, gaining weight is not as huge an issue as much as just feeling bad about what we've eaten. Be sure to look at the big picture - all the extra food and all the extra activities - and have an amazing holiday season.


Karena Lineback is the author of "OsteoPilates: Reduce Risk, Increase Bone Density, Look and Feel Great," contributing author to "Cancer Wellness" and the president of Pilates Teck.