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Weight Loss - How not to gain weight over the Christmas and New Year

By Paul Stephen Lubicz – The Wellbeing Manager

The holiday season is traditionally notorious for long lists of Christmas parties and functions and along with that super-rich foods, alcohol, overindulgence, and lower activity levels. This unfortunately adds up! And becomes part of the dreaded holiday weight gain routine. It happens to all most everyone. Whether it be half a kilo, 1 kilo, or five kilos, the weight goes on and sometimes has trouble coming off.

So how do we combat this?

Here are some great tips to make sure you stay in shape over the holiday season and avoid the title of 'to lose weight' on your list of your New Year's resolution.

Stay active

One of the major causes of weight gain during the holidays is lack of activity. Time is spent doing holiday errands, which makes us more tired, less motivated, and not wanting to stick to our routine. Best thing to do, stick to your regular schedule! Not only will it help keep weight gain down, it will give you more energy and it will reduce your stress which are both needed to battle the long lines and parking mayhem.

Don't starve yourself

One of the most common mistakes people make is to go hungry all day so that they can "afford" the calories later on at the holiday party they will be attending. You will end up being so hungry by the time you get to the party that you will forget about any sense of the word moderation or control. You are setting yourself up for a major binge. Make sure to eat your normal meals and keep your hunger at bay so that you can enjoy the food at the party without going overboard. Try loading your plate with healthy food first then have the holiday foods that you enjoy after you have been satisfied

Choose healthier options

There are some healthy options that you can eat during the holidays. White meat turkey is a great lean protein. Vegetables that aren't laden with butter, salad not drenched in dressing. You can also make other typical dishes healthier by changing the ingredients slightly. Try making mashed potatoes with reduced-fat or low-fat milk, yogurt or sour cream. Dips and spreads, same thing. Really think about the ingredients that you normally use and then think about how you can make the dish healthier.

Enjoy what you love

We all have those certain dishes or items that just bring us back to childhood and make the holidays special. Go ahead, indulge! Be choosy about what you indulge in though. Just enjoy with a sense of moderation. If you want to splurge on dessert, maybe you are a little more careful with your entrée choice.

Don't try and start a new diet during the holidays

Being restrictive may lead to binging! You will only be setting yourself up for disappointment, resentment, and depression. Stay healthy, but don't be too restrictive.

Holidays are days

Our holidays are on particular days. And they don’t last for weeks, or months. Treat them that way. Enjoy yourself on the particular holiday, but then go right back to your normal healthy eating plan. Just because it's the day before, the day before Christmas Eve, doesn't mean it's a holiday!

Take time for you

Quite often in the rush to get everything done before Christmas e.g. presents , bills paid, work deadlines met, this season ends up being stressful! Between trying to shop and scheduling in all your holiday parties along with your kids' plays and concerts and dealing with day-to-day life, it is important that you take some time for yourself.

Book a massage, try a meditation or yoga class, or even do something as little as buy your self a good book. Find something that will curb your stress that is not eating! This is could be an easy time to turn to food for comfort. Give yourself another method to deal with stress!

Give (or ask for) the gift of health

Gym memberships, exercise equipment, athletic apparel or shoes, gift certificates to a spa or personal trainer, etc. There are many "health" related gifts that you can give or ask for that would help someone you love or yourself stay healthy all year long. It will give a great jump-start to those New Year's resolutions that we normally give up by February. Make a commitment to your body and teach others to do the same.

Being realistic is the most important thing to remember. Enjoy yourself but don't go overboard.