While this time of year is a time of excitement and reunions, it also brings along a wave of stress, busy schedules, and an abundance of delicious holiday foods. From potlucks with coworkers to numerous holiday celebrations with family and friends, the dreaded holiday weight gain can seem almost unavoidable. It’s no surprise that some people gain 7 to 10 pounds by overindulging on rich foods and alcoholic beverages. If you’re looking to avoid those extra pounds, here are some tips and tricks you may want to try.
Eat before going to the party.
If you eat prior to attending the party, you may have a better chance of focusing on socializing with people rather than on the available food. Try filling up on healthier choices before leaving home such as lean proteins and vegetables. Then if you feel the need, allow yourself smaller indulgences.
Limit your alcoholic beverage intake.
Arming yourself with information of how many calories are in those drinks will help you to keep your intake under control. Each can of beer contains approximately 150 calories and many hard liquor-based drinks can contain anywhere from 200 to 500 calories. People also tend to eat high calorie foods when they drink alcohol, so avoiding it can save you calories and ensure that you will get home safely.
Don’t deprive yourself.
One of the biggest mistakes people make during the holidays is they skip meals before the event so that they can indulge in all the delicious holiday treats. When you skip meals, your body goes in to starvation mode and immediately hangs on to the calories once you finally eat. All in all, skipping meals and then overindulging will more than likely cause you to increase your calorie intake instead of the opposite.
Make a plan to keep up on your exercise.
The stress of getting everything done before a gathering or event can become overwhelming. By planning ahead, you can save yourself some stress and the possibility of skipping exercising. Besides, the endorphins you get from exercising will also help to combat any extra stressors.
Don’t beat yourself up.
Finally, don’t forget what the holidays are really about. Focus on spending time with the important people in your life. Plan ahead before heading out to gatherings and you should be able to keep the dreaded holiday weight gain at bay. If you end up gaining a pound or two, don’t stress over it. Plan for a healthy couple of weeks and you’ll be back on track in no time!
- Madelyn Saylor
Madelyn Saylor joined Aureus Medical Group in early 2012. She works as a Student Recruiter in the Rehab Therapy Student Outreach Program. Previously, she worked as an Admissions Advisor at Kaplan University, after graduating from Longwood University. In her spare time, Madelyn enjoys teaching group fitness classes, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.