Holiday season is just round the corner. There will be parties, celebrations, food and champagne. Ahhhh….that irresistible succulent Christmas dinner and sumptious pudding. That mouth watering new year buffet and the countdown champagne are so tempting. Your spirit is willing but your flesh is week. You will probably binge.
So what is price you pay for your hoilday binge? Well, it’s likely that if you step onto the bathroom scale, horror of horrors, you will gain a few kilograms and have lost some fitness!! Aaaaaaaaarrrrgghhh!! …
You may even contemplate engaging a personal trainer to put you on a strict training program to get you back on track in the new year. Whoa, fret no longer. With a little thought and planning, you can avoid holiday decline of health and fitness.
Here are some tips on how to stay on track during the holiday season.
1) Just Remember that the holiday season is just a few days.
You may find yourself thinking “I will gain weight around the holidays,” or “I’ll have to lose my Christmas weight after holiday season is over.”
Since you know this is likely to happen recognise that there are only a couple of days that you will eat more. Eat more on those days and no more. Don’t let the binge spread into a week or more by taking home all the leftovers or storing more sweets and pastries than you need for that particular holiday. It is usually what people find in the fridge and on the kitchen shelf after the holiday that they continue to binge on. Empty your fridge and the shelves. This will help you to manage what you eat in a more planned way.
2) Turn Off Your TV Set
Hey! Instead of watching all those holiday special programs or streamed channels, get moving! Instead of watching a soccer game on TV, get a ball and go to the nearest park for a kick around. Instead of lying on your couch snacking to a packet of chips, go lie by the poolside, then do a few laps. Better still, get your family and friends to join you. Go for a jog instead. Be innovative, think of some indoor activities or exercises you can do every day. While others gain weight, you may even lose weight. After all its a holiday. Have fun!
3) Avoid Acohol To Avoid Weight Gain
One gram of alcohol packs a whalloping 7 calories. In contrast, carbs and protein have only 4 calories per gram. Calories from alcohol are just, well, calories with zero nutritional value. Empty calories. They will rapidly convert into fat fast when you do not burn them off quickly. Avoid high-calorie mixed drinks like cocktails that are full of sugar or beer which are high in carbohydrates which translate into even more calories. You will definitely need to be on a weight loss program if you indulge in too much alcohol.
4) Drink Plenty Of Water
Juices, soft drinks and coffee don’t count! Just good ole plain water. Water flushes out toxins in the body, helps the body recover from dehydration caused by alcohol consumption. You will also feel full so that you will not over eat resulting in gaining weight.
5) Skip Dessert
Do you need those sweet and calorie laden thingies? If you must have them, choose those that are not that sweet or even better, just have some fibrous fruits and nuts.
If you can keep to these tips this coming holiday season, you will help to keep your health, fitness and wellbeing on track. Simple and cool isn’t it?
