A trip to the mall can be a diet nightmare for the tired, the stressed, and the hungry which translates to weight gain and more stress. These awesome tips below from Prevention's The Sugar Solution will teach you how to fuel your body properly before a shopping trip so that you can avoid extra calories, fatigue, and stress. The added bonus is you'll save money and time which are two things you can use more of during the holidays or any day!

1. Head out late at night during the week, after you've had a meal. You're less likely to run into crowds and you'll be shopping on a full stomach eliminating fatigue and cravings. This is also a great strategy because less stress means staying in control with purchases.

2. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes to avoid fatigue. This would seem an obvious tip but many women head out to the mall dressed to impress in order to get better service and they end up super tired and achy after being on their feet for hours which leads to sweet cravings, caffeine cravings, and/or false hunger. If you want to avoid packing on the pounds be good to your body and it will be good to you.

3. Bring a small bottled water and a snack bag (almonds/raisins/pretzel mix) in case you get stuck in long lines or if you stay out longer than expected, which happens more often than you would like to admit. These items are small enough and light enough to fit in your bag and can prevent overeating and emotional meltdowns that lead to overindulging.

4. Indulge in some spa therapy by getting your nails done, getting a quick chair massage, or having an aromatherapy facial or hand treatment. Treating yourself reduces stress which can often be a factor in indulging and overeating.

You can find more awesome tips like this plus tons of info about eating for optimal blood sugar control in Prevention's The Sugar Solution:
The Sugar Solution: Weight Gain? Memory Lapses? Mood Swings? Fatigue? Your Symptoms Are Real - And Your Solution is Here
The Sugar Solution Cookbook Is Also A Great Buy!