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Weight Loss - 8 tips to make it through the holidays without ballooning too much

By Paul Stephen Lubicz – The Wellbeing Manager

Your summer holidays don’t necessarily need to be a big a blow out! And you don’t have to do something as unrealistic as start a diet when you are away! With a few simple tips you can have maximum fun without maximum weight gain while on holiday. Below I will give you 8 simple tips to make it through the holidays.

Reduce Your Stress

Create a reasonable schedule for yourself. With so many dinners, shopping, and traffic try to keep your stress levels low. Figure out what is really important each day and try to eliminate the rest. Give yourself some extra time to get to and from your various activities. You know how it gets so hectic trying to rush from shopping to your next party.

Stay Motivated

You may feel like you are stuffing your face and that you've blown your diet during this time of the year, which may lead you in a downward spiral. Know that it is okay if you stray from your usual dietary plan. This isn’t a regular occurrence. Praise yourself for all of the good work and discipline that you've shown the rest of the year and enjoy.

Watch the Snacks

Peanuts, crisps, cheese and crackers and dips are often laid out on small trays throughout the house during the holiday. I would suggest that you "snack" at the vegetable tray first, and then if you still want, realise that there is nothing wrong with a piece of cheese and some other snacks as long as you do not fill up on them.

Don't Starve Yourself

Rather than starve yourself all day so that you can gorge yourself later, snack on some small meals or snacks throughout the day. You'll want to keep your fat burning furnace burning throughout the day, especially during this time of year. Remember to eat small snacks or meals that contain a combination of some protein and complex carbohydrates every three hours or so.

Be Aware of Your Alcohol Intake

Most of you know that alcohol is not calorie free. One can of regular beer range from 130 to 200 plus calories and mixed drinks, on average, are between 200 and 1,000 calories. Be aware that all of those "empty calories" add up and that alcohol has essentially no nutritional benefit.

Don't Leave Out Exercise

See if your hotel has a gym or take advantage of the outdoors or the beach. Try other activities outside that you may not regularly do like canoeing or snorkelling. You may want to consider working out in the morning to avoid last minute conflicts that may prevent you from exercising later in the day.

Get Up and Move

Increasing activity levels throughout your day will help you to burn calories, speed up your metabolism, and feel less stressed. Pass on the valet parking or ignore that perfect spot in the mall parking lot. Parking further away and walking the extra distance will burn more calories. To the same effect, remember to skip the elevator and take the stairs.

Enjoy!

This is the most important tip. Remember the true meaning of the holidays, which doesn't include counting calories and obsessing over food choices. Be thankful for another day and warm and caring friends and family.

Overall, remember the meaning of the holiday and that they can be enjoyed without indulging in mass quantities of food. Make sure to focus on the meals you can control. Get plenty of nourishing foods in throughout the trip to make up for some of the not so good choices at parties and around the pool. The key to overall health is to eat healthy overall. A few meals with less than healthy choices will not lead to your downfall. This year, make you focus on enjoying and not what you’re taking in.