During the Christmas period, you will most likely find yourself indulging in festive food, attending various parties with colleagues and family, and generally enjoying the holidays. Your skinny jeans may start to feel tighter, but it doesn’t have to end that way. You can have all the fun during the holidays and still maintain your ideal weight; just follow these simple tips to help you dodge the extra weight this Christmas.
Don’t Overeat
This may seem obvious, but you need to keep the overindulging to a minimum. Although a full serving of turkey, plus the trimmings, on the main day won’t hurt your weight goals, the bigger problem is the constant flow of sweet and savoury treats placed on the coffee table throughout December that are so easy to pick at. Furthermore, the parties where temptation to keep up with your friend’s food and drink choices can leave you bloated when you get home.
For your Christmas dinner, rather than have several small servings, you are better off taking one full plate and getting your fill once; don’t be tempted to pick, as this is where the calories secretly rack up. Always remember your diet plan and stick to it as best as possible. Yes some roasted peanuts or a mince pie here and there is not detrimental, but the chances of going overboard are high.
Load Up on Veggies
Regardless of your level of discipline, it might be difficult to continue saying no to friends when they invite you to dinners this festive season. However, you can always choose what goes into your plate. Make sure to fill your plate with as many veggies and fruits as possible which will fill you up, minimising the filling of your waistband.
Whether you are eating out or at home, be sure to include a minimum of three varieties of veggies on your plate. Vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which enhance the immune system. Also, they are low calorie, filling and provide dietary fibre which improves our digestive health.
Don’t Stop Exercising
During the Christmas season, most people find it hard to exercise. Although the lack of time with all of the preparations, along with dark nights and gloomy weather can make it tough, you need to continue working out if you intend to stay fit and trim. Don’t allow the mood of the country lull you into your comfort zone; try to break a sweat every day. It might be working out at the gym, jogging, swimming, or low-intensity activities such as walking your dog or playing with your kids or friends at the park. Whatever you do this Christmas, move more! Your muscles and waistline will thank you for it.
Stay Hydrated
Often, you confuse your thirst for hunger. When you feel hungry before it reaches lunchtime, drink a glass of water and then wait for twenty minutes to see if the hunger subsides. So when you feel like eating that bag of cookies, down a glass of water instead; you may still want a cookie, but hopefully you won’t need as many to feel full.
Sleep More
With so much going on in the lead up to and during Christmas, it can be hard to rest and have a sound sleep. Sleep deprivation elevates stress levels, which can induce your body to store fat and also make you hungrier. Christmas is a time to be merry and enjoy the season, not a time to overwhelm you with stress. Have all the fun you can in the world, but don’t forget to have a solid night's sleep. While Christmas comes only once in a year, it is not worth losing sleep over.
Christmas will come and go, but your health and fitness are paramount. Enjoy yourself during the holidays, but always remember moderation is key.
