4 Ways to Avoid Putting on Excess Pounds During the Holidays

The holidays are times for relaxing, celebrating, enjoying the presence of loved ones, engaging in entertaining games and activities, and indulging in tasty bites to eat. While there’s no harm in having fun and socializing, there is a problem with consuming too much of what isn’t good for you, even during holidays and adding excess pounds.

Statistics show that while the current weight of a person often predicts how much weight they’ll gain during the holidays, just about everyone gains something during this time. According to the National Council on Strength and Fitness, a 2006 study found that individuals gain an average of one to 10 pounds around the holidays.

Although it is difficult to not overindulge during parties and special events, there are ways you can avoid putting on that extra weight:

1. Before the festivities, start engaging in a regular workout routine.

Before the holiday’s inch closer, it’s a good idea to start a regular workout routine. As we all know, when the holidays are in session, we tend to slack off and get distracted. However, implementing a plan for regular workouts can help motivate you to stay fit and drop the holiday pounds after the festivities come to a close.

You might work out at home or at a local gym. Attending a gym, you will have access to many fitness center amenities based on your workout needs from strength equipment and a group exercise studio to personal training and cardio equipment.

2. Be mindful of the foods you choose to serve.

Most of us have holiday traditions. One of those traditions might involve whipping up the same family recipes each year as the holidays arrive. However, if those foods are only leaving you with heartburn, a distended abdomen, and unwanted extra pounds, there’s no shame in switching up your holiday menu a pinch.

If you must leave your holiday meal plan as is, at least try swapping out some of the recipes’ ingredients for healthier alternatives, like stevia instead of sugar, for instance. You may also wish to add some healthier dishes alongside the not-so-healthy ones or make smaller portions of your unhealthier dishes.

3. Drink a glass or two of water before you consume holiday foods.

All that holiday prep sure has your stomach growling! While it’s only fair that you get to enjoy your annual holiday meal, there is still such a thing as too much. The good news is, drinking water prior to eating can make you fuller, thus resulting in you consuming less.

In one three-month study, 80 adults with obesity drank two glasses of water before eating. After the 12 weeks, it was found that they not only ate less food but also lost an average of 9.48 pounds.

4. Ask your guests to take leftovers.

Especially when it comes to desserts, it’s hard to resist leftover food. After everyone leaves, you might find yourself heading back to the refrigerator for seconds or even thirds a few hours later. However, a better idea is to ensure your guests take leftovers before they go. Make sure to have plastic containers, foil, and paper plates available.

If you aren’t the one hosting the party, you might consider leaving the dish(es) you made at the host’s home. If others offer their leftovers, make it a goal to not take too much. Leftovers may seem like no big deal, but foods around the holidays are typically not the best for your weight.

Conclusion

Although we all want to kick back and relax on holidays, what we often choose to consume during these special times, from candies to alcoholic beverages, can certainly impact our weight. Yet, most of us tend to eat poorly and overindulge without thinking of the long-term consequences.

However, starting a regular workout routine before the holidays, be careful of what we choose to serve at parties, drinking water before diving into holiday foods, and having guests take leftovers home are all great ways to save you from the extra pounds for the holidays.

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Girl on Fire

Photographer at Loudmouth Photography

Brandy is the wife to a carpenter/musician and the mother of 3 amazingly awesome homeschool/unschooled girls. Brandy is a Photographer as well as a Coach for the Weebellion as part of Rolling Rebellion Jr. Roller Derby. Brandy is passionate about many things and suffers from a very painful and degenerative neurological disease called CRPS/RSD.

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