Cal State Northridge kinesiology professor Steven Loy and graduate students Karen Brown and Shilo Nelson, who oversee a university-wide fitness effort called "Wellness@CSUN.You," have come up with their top ten tips for surviving the holidays without gaining a pound.

1. Never let your tank get on ‘E.'

Brown explained that one of the biggest mistakes people make during the holidays is to skip meals on the day of a party so they can fill up at an event.

"This only presents a perfect opportunity to go overboard," he said. "Maintain control by eating your regular meals throughout the day."

2. Plan ahead.

Brown and Nelson suggest finding out ahead of time if the host will be serving hors d'oeuvres or a full dinner.

"If only hors d'oeuvres are being served, be sure to eat dinner beforehand. If it is a full dinner, eating a healthy mid-afternoon snack may be appropriate depending on the time dinner will be served," Nelson said. "This will help you avoid eating the majority of your calories before bedtime."

3. Choose wisely.

If dinner is buffet style, use a small plate and eat only a sample of the foods you really love. Choose only special items, After all, you can eat cheese and crackers anytime. If the event is a sit-down dinner, fill your plate with three-fourths vegetables and one-fourth lean proteins.

4. Make your outfit count.

Loy pointed out that someone wearing a form-fitting outfit to a holiday party is less likely to overeat. "Save the elastic bands and oversized shirts for your workouts," he said.

5. Party food is for parties.

Save the holiday treats for the parties and maintain your healthy eating habits and exercise program throughout the rest of the holiday season.

6. Make a thoughtful contribution.

If attending an event where you are asked to contribute a dish, "make it a healthy one and don't feel bad about it," Brown said. "There will be plenty of high-calorie foods and sweets anyway."

7. Drink wisely.

Loy and his team recommend alternating low-calorie alcoholic beverages with sparkling water and a lime slice. Or have one alcoholic drink and never finish it.

"Better yet, nix the alcoholic beverages altogether," he said. "If you do choose to indulge, remember wine spritzers can be your best bet in terms of calories consumed."

8. Skip the food court.

When holiday shopping, plan ahead by packing snacks to take along or by visiting the stores between meals when the food court won't seem so tempting.

"If you find you must take a food break while shopping, skip the food court and avoid the temptation. Instead, opt to eat at a sit-down restaurant where you will have more healthy choices," Nelson said.

9. Share.

If a colleague gives you a box of candy or tub of popcorn for the holidays, don't feel that you have to eat it all by yourself. Take one piece and share the rest.

10. Rev up your exercise routine. Adding an extra 10 minutes of cardio to your exercise routine can equal an extra 30 minutes of cardio each week if you work out at least three times per week.