Fight the Gain: Six Awesome Tips to Help you Ward Off Holiday Weight
The holidays are here and so are the delicious, high-calorie dishes we look forward to all year. This can lead to unwanted pounds and tight fitting clothing. Here are six practical steps to help win the “Battle of the Bulge” this holiday season.
1) Work It Out
During the season of heavy eating, exercise is key, both before and after, to keep metabolism high so calories can be burned. Treadmills and ellipticals are great tools to use to burn calories and to get a powerful aerobic workout. Also, include strength training activities such as weight lifting. Muscle burns more calories, even when you are at rest. So by adding strength training in with your amped up cardio routine, you can burn more calories naturally.
2) Prepare For The Day
The day of the big feast has arrived and it is important that you don’t attend the event hungry. Eat a small healthy snack, such as a granola bar, before you go. Also, take a healthy dessert as your contribution. This will save you from the cheesecake pitfall. There is always the old trick of drinking a full glass of water thirty minutes before the big meal. It will fill your stomach and keep you from over eating for the whole meal.
3) Pile On The Veggies
When preparing your plate, begin with the vegetables. Make every effort to fill half the plate with an enticing, colorful, variety of fruits and vegetables. Your plate will look appealing and you will feel good about having a balanced meal.
By filling your plate with these healthy options you can still eat and enjoy with all your friends and family, but turn a large portioned meal into a meal with the regular calorie count your body is used to.
4) Don't Say No
When looking at the delicious spread, don’t deprive yourself of the things you love. If the not-so-healthy macaroni and cheese is too difficult to resist, don’t. Place a small amount on the plate and move on. Enjoy and do not return!
5) Chew, Chew, Chew
Once your plate is prepared, sit down to eat. Chew slowly and frequently, enjoying each nibble. The longer the time you spend eating, the less you are likely to eat. Also, you will have time for the brain to let you know when it is full and you won’t feel like a stuffed pig when you are done.
6) Don't Get Tipsy
Pay attention to how many cocktails or glasses of wine you drink. Not only does it add a ton of empty calories to your already calorie-filled meal, it also prevents you from being focused on the amount of food you are taking in. Who’s counting calories after the third glass of spirits?
This holiday, let the time with family and friends be what you remember, not the extra 10 pounds you gained. Following these six steps will allow you to enjoy a guilt-free, enjoyable, festive holiday.