Welcome to the holiday season! This time of year is often filled with joy, laughter, and of course, delicious food. However, it can also be a source of stress when it comes to your eating habits. Don’t let that happen to you this year! Follow these simple tips to make sure you are taking care of yourself and enjoying the season in a stress-free way.
TIP NO. 1 SKIP WEIGHT LOSS FOR NOW, GO FOR MAINTENANCE
Instead of being on a deficit during the holidays, It is better to set the more achievable goal of maintaining your weight throughout the holidays. If you’ve maintained, you won’t have extra weight to lose in January.
TIP NO. 2 BALANCE YOUR DAY & DON’T GO TO PARTIES HUNGRY
Balance your caloric total for the day of a holiday get-together by eating small meals with fewer calories the day of a holiday event. You may be more likely to buy more when grocery shopping while hungry. The same is true for parties. Eat something light shortly before the party.
TIP NO. 3 STAY HYDRATED & LIMIT HIGH-CALORIE DRINKS
Staying hydrated is vital to avoid overeating because people often mistake hunger for thirst. Avoiding drinks with high calories is also nearly impossible during the holidays. If you can avoid drinking these drinks as much as possible, the better. But if you can’t, the best thing to do is limit yourself to 1-2 glasses.
TIP NO. 4 PRIORITISE EATING PROTEIN FIRST
Control your carb intake and have your meals with more protein and fewer carbs. Carbs give you more energy throughout the day, but protein is essential in muscle building and making you feel full plus it will help you on your muscle gain journey during the holidays.
TIP NO. 5 CONTROL YOUR ENERGY & SLEEP
Avoid fatigue. It reduces self-control, so you won’t be as likely to choose the right foods. Try to get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is associated with weight gain. Many studies show that sleep-deprived people tend to be hungrier. On the other hand, oversleeping can also be a problem.
TIP NO. 6 MOVE MORE & STAY ACTIVE
Decreased physical activity is one of the main reasons for holiday weight gain. The good news is that people who are more active can better keep their weight stable during the holidays. Take a brisk walk, do home workouts, or even do household chores to stay active.
TIP NO. 7 DON’T LET YOUR INDULGENCES SNOWBALL
Even if you wind up eating and drinking more than usual during a celebration, don’t let it become a habit for the entire season. The actual holidays are really only 3-8 individual days. Eating various foods on the holidays alone won’t cause too much damage, especially if you stay active.
TIP NO. 8 REFRAME YOUR FAILURES
If you do overindulge, forget about it and move on. Instead of calling yourself a failure, try to reframe your thoughts to consider what you learned and how you can set yourself up for healthier choices in the future. Feeling guilty over food is never the answer.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND WISHING YOU A VERY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
