The average person tends to gain about 2-5 pounds during the holidays. However, very few people try to actually lose those pounds afterwards. Also, those that do try to lose them quickly find that it’s quite a difficult task. So, I propose that we not gain any weight in the first place (or at least to try to minimize the damage.) And to help in this endeavor, I’m giving you some of my tips for preventing holiday weight gain. Last year I actually lost 3 pounds during the holidays, so I can assure you that holiday weight gain is not something that's inevitable. Try to implement as much of these as you can, not only during the holidays, but in your regular day-to-day life as well.
1. Stay hydrated. Much of the weight that we do gain during the holidays is water weight. So, a way to avoid carrying excess amounts of water in us is simply to increase our daily intake of water. Not to mention that we already know how water helps flush the toxins out. Also, I find that when I don’t drink the amount of water that I’m supposed to in a day, I feel lousy, which leads me to overeating.
2. Avoid the sugary holiday snacks. Instead, snack on fruits and veggies. People often underestimate the massive amounts of calories found in all those sugary holidays snacks (cinnamon buns, gingerbread cookies, chocolate treats, sugar cookies, etc.) In addition to the obvious, the fiber provided to us by fruits and vegetables will help us stay fuller for longer, helping us to curb mindless eating.
3. Eat as you normally would. In the past, I would starve myself during the day on Christmas Eve just so that I wouldn’t feel guilty for having an over-indulgent dinner. However, little did I know that this led me to overeating. It’s better to stick to your regular diet during the day because that way you won’t be as hungry and are less likely to overindulge at dinnertime.
4. Workout. With all the Christmas shopping, holiday parties and get-togethers, this is one of the busiest times of the year. That said, try to squeeze in a workout everyday during the season, especially on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Working out will make you feel better and you’ll get the added benefit of burning a few calories in the process.
5. Don’t drink your calories. Avoid eggnog, the holiday drinks at Starbucks (peppermint mocha, gingerbread latte, etc.), and mixed alcoholic drinks. During the holidays, our consumption of alcoholic beverages also tends to increase. I’m not telling you to stop drinking completely; I know I’ll certainly be having a drink or two. But, I do recommend that you stick to wine and champagne, avoiding the mixed cocktails as much as you can. If you’re still dying to have a cocktail, then I’d do research on how to make your favorite one a bit less caloric (i.e., use Coke Zero instead of the regular one for your rum and coke, etc.)
6. Relax! Be mindful of what you’re eating, but also remember that this is the season to spend some quality time with your loved ones, and that food will always be around. Try not to see food as an enemy that must be defeated, but as something that we need, and something that makes life a bit more enjoyable. I’ve found that the more I stress out about losing weight, the harder it becomes for the weight to come off. Not only that, but it also leads me to insomnia, which isn’t good for weight loss either. So yea, a few indulgences here and there won’t be completely disastrous. Again, be mindful of what you eat, and try not to indulge every single day – it’s when we constantly make poor choices that our weight starts to slowly creep up.
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