During holidays like Christmas, with all the parties and sweet goodies given and served, do you ever gain weight? If you could maintain your healthy weight during this time, that is awesome. But for many people, it's very common to gain weight over the holidays.
If you would like to avoid gaining weight, what are the things that you should watch out for? Read the 10 tips below about some science-backed techniques to help avoid gaining weight over the holidays.
Tip #1. Get Real
For sure during the holidays, you will be going to several parties and it will be hard to resist eating the delicious foods served on the table. Could you tell yourself to just eat one Christmas cookie? Are you sure?
Be honest with yourself. Admit that you’re probably going to eat a lot more than you typically do. So, you need to establish some restrictions.
Impartial goals are difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. The best thing you can do is to enhance your relationship with food.
Write down realistic goals and display them on your dresser or refrigerator to remind yourself of your goals. Seeing them every day will empower you to stick to your goals.
Tip #2. Make Smart Choices
If you're going to a party or event, and you don't want to eat too much, one thing you can do is to snack on some veggies, high-fiber foods, and proteins an hour before the event. Doing so will make you feel full much longer.
Also, when you’re at the party, use smaller plates. Then, you can control the amount of food you get and eat only smaller portions.
Another tip is to chew your food slowly. Not only will you have better digestion, you will also feel fuller faster and eat less.
Tip #3. Give Guests Some Parting Gifts
If you are the host of a party, don't let your guests leave without taking home some of the food. That is, if you don't want to have piles of leftovers in your kitchen.Be sure to have on hand some disposable food containers. You could pick containers that complement the theme of the party. Fill them up with something and hand them out to your guests before they leave.
Tip #4. Watch Your Alcohol Intake
Remember that drinking alcoholic beverages come with extra calories. A regular beer contains approximately 153 calories. A glass of wine contains around 133 calories. So, be sure to drink moderately.
Tip #5. Freeze Leftovers
If you don’t like giving your guests some food (leftovers) to take home, then don't. What should you do with the extra food? You should know how to store them properly so they won't spoil easily. Pack them into serving portions, then freeze them instead of putting them in the fridge. The next time you have a meal, you can easily reheat and serve lunch or dinner.
Tip #6. Drink Water
Many people don't give water the credit it deserves. Sure, it doesn't have any taste or color. Yet it gives us plenty of health benefits.
In relation to avoiding weight gain, drinking water regularly all through the day helps. It makes you feel full, so you eat less. Moreover, it’s not loaded with sugar which increases the calories you consume, unlike soda, juice, or wine. If you drink enough water daily, you'll feel more energetic as water helps wash the toxins out of your body.
Tip #7. Chew Gum
Some say chewing gum helps curb appetite. Whether that is true or not, it certainly serves as a distraction. Since your mouth is already busy chewing gum, you can't eat more.
So, keep some gum in your pocket and chew one after eating. If you like hard candy more than chewing gum, you can have that, too. But choose the sugar-free ones so you’re not hurting your teeth.
Tip #8. Turn Off the TV
Are you having a movie marathon during the holiday break? That is certainly a lot of fun. But since eating while watching TV has been linked to overeating, you better be mindful. Turn off the TV when you should so you don't get sucked into whatever you’re watching and eat mindlessly especially low-nutrient junk foods.
Tip #9. Walk More
If you can't go to the gym during the holidays, make up for it by consciously staying active. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. Park your car farther from the mall entrance so you can walk a few more steps. It will help to burn off extra calories and reduce stress caused by the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
Tip #10. De-Stress
Planning to have a holiday season that is merry and bright? Be careful as it could turn out to be full of stress and anxiety that could trigger cravings and overeating. So, if you're feeling the holiday strain, try some de-stressors like a 5-minute meditation or reading your favorite book. You could also treat yourself to a facial and a manicure-pedicure. After all, it’s a time to be jolly, right?
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