Tempted by those yummy looking puddings and mouth-watering cookies? Eating delicious food is part of the fun during the holiday season, but if you’re on a weight loss program, it’s best not to overdo it.
How much damage can one cookie do anyway? Just one a day for a month could add an extra pound to your weight. That might not sound like much, but most people won’t stop at just one, and then there’s the pudding, the chocolate, the extra trimmings…
Ok, so there’s a lot to tempt you at during the holidays, and it can seem pretty overwhelming. And while you’ll certainly want to let yourself loosen up a little and enjoy some treats, there’s no reason to abandon your weight loss goals altogether. Here are some tips for keeping them in mind, even when you’re surrounded by mountains of delicious delicacies.
Don’t Skip Meals
Skipping meals is a sure fire way to trip yourself up. Missed meals lead to low blood sugar, accompanied by extreme hunger, tiredness and a grumpy temper. You might be tempted to skip meals to make up for those sweet treats, but it doesn’t usually work that neatly – what will probably happen is that you end up picking constantly (because let’s face it, chocolate and the like isn’t really satisfying for long, and eating lots of sugar just makes you crave more). By the end of the day you’ll probably have been so ravenous that you end up taking in more calories than you would have if you’d just stuck to your normal meals and had a few treats afterwards.
Eat Before the Party
Parties typically include plenty of festive food, most of which is very ‘more-ish’, so if you don’t want to overdo it, fill up with a small high fibre meal before leaving home, and you’re less likely to eat everything in sight when you get there.
Give the Buffet Table a Wide Berth
Eating beforehand can really help, but if you’re prone to eating even when you’re not hungry, do yourself a favour, and don’t hang out by the buffet. Just visit it once, help yourself to some of the healthier offerings (most have some fruit, salads etc), and then beat a retreat – there’s no point putting your willpower under unnecessary strain. Focus on socialising instead, and take your mind off the food.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water helps you to feel full, but just as importantly, it helps to keep food cravings at bay. Often people become dehydrated as a result of not drinking enough water (and no, drinking tea, coffee and the like doesn’t count!), and then interpret their feelings of thirst as hunger. So make sure you stay well hydrated by drinking at least two litres a day, and you’re less likely to experience ‘false’ hunger pangs.
Go Easy On The Booze
If you’re drinking alcohol over the holidays, be aware it’s bad for your weight loss effort on two counts – not only it is chock full of calories, but it can also seriously dent your willpower. If you’re not willing to abstain completely, at least pace yourself by having a glass of water between each alcoholic drink, and never use alcohol to quench your thirst – drink water instead.
Get Lots of Exercise
It’s very important to keep exercising over the holiday season. It will keep your metabolic rate up, and you’ll feel less tempted to overeat. And if you do overdo the food a little, exercise will help to burn off those excess calories, and stop you feeling sluggish and depressed. The holiday season can be a stressful time, but if you choose an exercise activity that you enjoy, you’ll be less tempted to overeat to give your mood a boost.
Follow these six simple tips, and you’ll stand a good chance of keeping on track with your weight loss goals over the holidays – and even if you don’t lose as much as normal, at least you’ll be able to avoid gaining weight like most people do!
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