Holiday weight gain is something many people worry about and try to avoid during the festive season. Gaining weight during the holidays is easy because not only is it hard to stick to your diet and fitness program during this time but there are also many opportunities for you to eat. From the delicious Christmas foods served during holiday events and festivities to your family saying you are too skinny and tempting you to try all the delicacies they make.
If you are concerned about gaining weight over Christmas, this post will give you some tips on how to avoid holiday weight gain this festive season.
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How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
- Stay active
If you live in a place that experiences winter and cold weather during the festive season, you might spend all your time indoors sleeping, lounging around the house, eating, drinking, and watching TV. And although it is good to use this time to rest, these sedentary behaviors and eating too much will make you gain weight during the holidays.
So, if you want to learn how to avoid holiday weight gain this festive season, you will have to find ways to stay active. Try to fit in some simple activities that help you maintain or lose excess weight. For example, to avoid Christmas weight gain, you can take the stairs, schedule time to exercise as a family, dance, play games, swim, or go on regular walks while enjoying the beautiful Christmas decorations in your neighborhood.
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- Develop self-discipline
The delicious foods served on Christmas can be tempting, but most of them could be unhealthy and high in calories, leading to holiday weight gain. Since you don’t have to go to work, you don’t have much to do at home and might get bored and end up finding yourself eating more often than usual.
One tip on how to avoid holiday weight gain this festive season is to improve your self-control and make healthy food choices. Learn to say no when your family members or friends try to tempt you to eat something you know will make you gain weight during the holidays or risk your health.
However, even though you are keeping your fitness goals in mind this Christmas, don’t restrict yourself too much. Give yourself a break and treat yourself to some of the foods you would like to try, but don’t overindulge.
- Make your own meals
This might be difficult to do if you are spending Christmas with family, and some of them might think you are being pretentious for not wanting to eat what everyone else is eating. However, for your peace of mind and to be sure what ingredients have been used in the food you eat, making your own meals may be one of the best ways to avoid holiday weight gain. You will make healthy food choices that align with your fitness goals.
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- Pay attention to your portion sizes
With so many tasty foods served during Christmas, many people overeat and thus, gain weight during the holidays. You might be tempted to try all the dishes or put too much food on your plate. But if you want to learn how to avoid holiday weight gain this festive season, you will need to pay attention to your portion sizes, how often you eat, and the food groups you put on your plate.
Portion control will help you avoid overeating during the holidays and also reduce food wastage. You will only eat the amount of food you need and balance the various food groups.
- Practice mindful eating
If you don’t want to avoid some foods on Christmas, you don’t have to. Practicing mindful eating is one of the best tips on how to avoid holiday weight gain because it is not about dieting or restrictions on some foods.
Mindful eating involves engaging all your senses and paying attention to your food throughout the processes of buying, preparing, and eating. You are aware of what, how, and why you are eating. This makes it easier for you to differentiate between feeling physical hunger and when your reason for eating is social pressure or emotional factors such as stress.
Practicing mindful eating will help you avoid holiday weight gain because you will remove distractions, stay present, savor your food, and be fully aware of what you eat and how you feel while eating, and thus, avoid undereating or overeating.
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- Get enough sleep
Despite almost everyone getting time off work during the festive season, most people experience sleep deprivation during the holidays as they attend parties and participate in fun activities. Unfortunately, many people underestimate or are unaware that sleep is one of the factors that affect their weight.
When sleep-deprived, it will be difficult for you to make healthy food choices, you will not have the willpower to resist unhealthy foods, and you will also lack the energy to be physically active. Therefore, if you want to know how to avoid holiday weight gain, you will need to get adequate sleep of at least 8 to10 hours every night.
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- Stay hydrated
If you are looking for tips on how to avoid holiday weight gain, drinking water is one of the most important ones to remember. However, people rarely drink it during the holidays probably because of the cold weather, or they are indulging themselves and taking alcoholic drinks during Christmas celebrations instead.
Since alcohol is a diuretic, it makes you lose water through urination quicker than other liquids, leading to thirst and dehydration, which some people confuse for hunger.
Water might not be your go-to drink during the festive season, but drinking it is important if you want to stay healthy and fit during the holidays. It will make you feel full, suppress your appetite, boost your metabolism, and help you burn calories. So this Christmas, make sure to drink enough water for your individual needs to stay hydrated, stop overeating, and thus, avoid holiday weight gain.
Final Words
Are you concerned about Christmas weight gain? If you are, stop worrying too much. Studies found that the average weight gain during the holidays is only under one pound. So, make sure your worries about holiday weight gain do not keep you from having a wonderful time this year.
The holidays are supposed to be a fun time with family and friends. To have peace of mind or stay fit and healthy, you can use the above tips on how to avoid holiday weight gain this festive season. Happy Holidays!
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Great tips! Mindful eating is a hard one to master, but a useful skill
It really is! Thank you so much for reading, Ang. I’m really glad you liked the post❤️