Your office Christmas party or family gathering may be wreaking more havoc on your weight control efforts than you realize this holiday season. While those who counting calories try to steer clear of the cookies and chocolates, another culprit may be contributing equally to those tight-fitting pants come January.

One-quarter of distilled spirit sales occur during the period between Thanksgiving and the New Year. And that seemingly innocent cocktail may be packing a pretty big caloric punch. A one-cup serving of eggnog with rum for example, contains a whopping 370 calories. And while a regular five-ounce serving of wine contains about one-third the calories as the eggnog, be cognizant of the fact that the average glass of wine can often be double that size.

To avoid falling victim to those alcohol-induced pounds (and a hangover while you’re at it!), follow some simple tips to reduce your cocktail calorie intake. Deciding in advance how much you’ll drink at a gathering, drinking a glass of water or club soda for every alcoholic beverage you consume and modifying your calorie intake before an event where you know you’ll have a drink are all strategies you can employ to avoid overdoing it.

Read the rest of the article for more tips and to find out how many calories are in some of your favorite holiday beverages.

» MSNBC