Christmas is celebrated once a year, but when it comes it brings good cheer. It’s a time nearly everybody gets to relax with what they eat, or drink, joyfully digging into all the chicken, turkey, fried rice, meat, and everything else that’s available. The days leading up to Christmas and after is easy to fall off the wagon, letting go and enjoying yourself. If that’s the case you’ll be doing more than bringing the festive cheer into your house, you will also bring a lot more to your waistline. Most times when the Christmas merry is over we realize in horror that our clothes no longer fit, as we have to squeeze into them.
The space of one single festive week shouldn’t result in a tremendous weight gain because Christmas is also that time of the year when looking great is of utmost importance. It’s okay to indulge in a glass of wine, a bite of cake, to eat as much as possible but keeping things in moderation is key for maintaining a healthy weight that will make you feel your best for the season.
Here are 10 things to do to avoid that weight gain over the holidays.
Don’t skip meals.
On Christmas day, allow yourself to enjoy anything. Skipping meals might cause intense hunger, so try and stick to your regime where you can, then enjoy what you have planned – but apply caution.
Eat from smaller plates.
Use a smaller plate when eating as your mind will consider it full regardless of the size.
Make sure to move
If you overeat this Christmas season and you feel guilty about it, then do some exercise or move around – dance, run, jump, whatever you’re up for, just move.
Forget about taking home leftovers from the party.
Once the day is over, forget anything that’s left over. But in case you do take any, share it. You could offer sweets to friends with children, take cakes and treats to a friend’s. It’s tough but come January, you’ll feel better with the success of not having been beaten by the season.
Here are other tips to curtail the season’s eating habits:
- When eating at a buffet, take a little of many things instead of lots of one thing, and choose lighter options.
- For every glass of alcohol or soft drink, chug down a glass of water.
- Don’t prepare a lot of food or you will consume everything.
- Use herbs and spices as flavor and reduce cream or butter intake.
- Serve more of fresh fish or seafood instead of red meat.
- Eat anything on the table, but stop once you feel full.
