Christmas is the season of joy, but you may also feel a little anxious about this festive season. Is it the idea of gaining weight and acquiring tummy after Christmas that make you feel uneasy? Do you have this question in mind: how to enjoy Christmas foods and drinks, and still keep weight off during this coming holiday?
While it is generally alright to give in to our food cravings and indulge ourselves a bit once in a while–especially during Christmas–sadly many tend to overeat during the holiday, and end up gaining inches and pounds.
Apart from overeating, physical inactivity is also another reason leading to weight gain during holidays. Activity level is usually lower than usual during the holiday seasons. Many people prefer to rest on their couches, watching television shows one after another, instead of visiting the gym or doing some home exercises.
Therefore it is not difficult to rule out why many people gain weight after Christmas, and why many actually foresee this to happen!
So what can you do to keep yourself fit and prevent weight gain? Here’s how you can keep weight off and stay fit during Christmas.
1. Choose what to eat
Instead of the calorie-rich Christmas pudding, why not go for its low-fat or no-fat varieties instead? When it comes to mince pies, reach for those that don’t come with pastry lids–mince pies without the pastry lids have much lower calorie content.
There are also certain drinks you need to avoid, such as alcohol and soft drinks, to keep weight off. These beverages contain only empty calories that will cause you to gain weight. However, you can drink red wine moderately, because it is known to be rich in antioxidants that are good for health.
2. Eat moderately
Moderation is the key to success in weight loss. Even if you are taking only the healthy choices or low-calorie foods, don’t fill your plate up to the brim! You will not want to consume calories more than your body needs. Just eat a small portion of each variety, and use a smaller plate.
A useful tip here is: drink at least a glass of water before you head off to the party. This will help suppress your hunger to a certain extent, and you will less likely end up overeating.
3. Keep active
People tend to get less active during holidays. Most of the time will be spent on watching television shows instead of exercising! Remember, a sedentary lifestyle is also a major reason for gaining weight. Therefore, it is important to add some sort of exercises to your daily routine, for example a 30-minute walk in the park, to help burn off the extra calories you consume during the holidays.
Bear these three simple rules in mind.
Tags: how to keep weight off, keep weight off, keep weight off Christmas, prevent weight gain