Avoiding weight gain during Christmas is one of the most important yet difficult tasks. The primary reason being it is the annual holiday and party season! You obviously do not need to be dieting the way you would during summer shredding but there has to be some control. There’s nothing better than realizing you didn’t give yourself to the holiday season completely when summer rolls around. For now, we bring to you the tips that will help you in avoiding excessive weight gain during Christmas.
Be Wise With Snacks
The easiest snacks available during Christmas are cookies and other baked goods. So, cookies have sugar, sugar has calories, and calories become a reason for weight gain. The best way to avoid these snacks while you’re at home is to keep them out of eyesight. Instead, keep a couple of fruits, protein bars, healthy nuts, etc. around the house. Whenever you get snacky, make a pick from the healthier options. However, when you’re outside this will become a problem. This is when mind over matter comes to use. The best advice anyone can give you in this situation is: TRAIN YOUR MIND TO NOT GIVE INTO INDULGES.
Don’t Forget Your Protein
Protein really helps you when it comes to metabolism and appetite-curbing hormones. During the Christmas season, a lot of the dishes or food items focus on carbs. In such situations, you really have to understand what’s best for you. You must include a certain amount of protein in your meals to make it complete. This way not only do you enjoy the festivities but also keep your weight management within control. Some of the best sources of protein are meat, poultry, eggs, beans, soy or quinoa. Ideally, you should include an average of 25g to 30g of protein in each meal.
Limit Dessert And Liquid Calories
Dessert calories come in the form of sugar calories. Also, desserts are the one part of Christmas joys that absolutely cannot be avoided. Once you give in, you know you can’t stop. Therefore, if you do give in to the cravings of having dessert then make sure you stop yourself before going overboard.
On the other hand, when it comes to liquid calories such as alcohol, soda, cocktails, etc. remember that these are nothing but empty calories. If you cross your calorie limit with empty calories, you will add excessive weight. The time you would spend having two of the drinks, spend that time having one. A healthier option is to keep yourself hydrated with a lot of water. Enjoy your drinks, but drink responsibly!
Regularly Weighing Yourself
Stepping on a scale regularly can help you understand how much weight you’ve gained during the season. One of the primary reasons this is advised is to make sure you do not up with an exorbitant amount of extra weight. It’s actually a proven method of having better weight management control. In fact, some find it beneficial to weight themselves daily while others do it once or twice a week. Keeping a record of your regular weight can help you understand how to modify your next calorie consumption.
Control The Stress Levels
When we get stressed, there’s a hormone called cortisol gets released. This leads to a higher level of weight gain because of the high food intake. Therefore, to save yourself from high-stress levels it is greatly advised you start doing regular exercises. The holiday season is known to stress out most of us due to the running around. It’s always good to take out some time from this running around and indulge in some self-care.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is always an important factor when it comes to maintaining good health. Therefore, you need to sleep well even during this holiday season. We all want to have fun with our friends and family but do not risk your well-being. Get your daily sleep so that you can have a good day every day! In fact, lack of sleep is known to make a man cranky and you don’t want to be cranky during the jolly season.
You don’t have to do something drastic to maintain your weight. Avoiding weight gain during Christmas isn’t a difficult task, it just requires a tad bit of discipline. Do you know what else really works during Christmas? Keep your heart happy but keep your mind happy too! Merry X-Mas 🙂