The holidays are a time of year when we can “eat, drink and be merry”. But sometimes, we can overdo it. The average American can put on a pound of weight during the span from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, and some people may put on much more than that. This doesn’t have to be you, however. Here are a few tricks and strategies for you to exit the holiday season looking and feeling the same way you did when you went into it:
- Eat something at home before you go the party to fill you up beforehand. This may seem counterintuitive (eating more food to gain less weight?) but remember: if you’re already full, you’re less likely to eat. And if you don’t want to seem rude, you’ll still be fine grabbing just a bite.
- Do not linger near the buffet line or the hors d’oeuvres table. Just grab a plate (or not) and get away from the danger zone.
- Protein-rich foods are best for satiety (filling you up faster). A trick that can be done year-round, by the way.
- Watch your alcohol intake if you’re conscious of your weight. Too much drinking is one of the fastest ways to pack on some unwanted empty calories.
- Plan your day around it. If you know you have a big holiday get-together to attend, and you know going in that there will be lots of eating and drinking, then that might be a good day to get a good workout in beforehand to offset the difference.
- Above all else: if you’re going to splurge on the holidays, that’s ok! But do it guilt-free! You don’t do it (hopefully) every day. So it’s not the end of the world if you let loose a little bit for a special occasion. Just remember to get back on track when it’s all over. But until then…enjoy the moment.
For more information, please consult our Fitness Center staff. We are here to help you!
Adrian Kinsella
Certified Personal Trainer
HealthQuest Fitness Club