If you’re anything like us, you know how hard it is to say, “No” to desserts and any other yummy complex carbohydrates. So when it’s Christmas time and all of the sweets and drinks are at your fingertips, how do you push through? Well, we’re here to give you some great expert tips on what you can do this holiday season to avoid overeating! You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make it through!
1. Don’t Arrive To The Parties Hungry
Be sure you eat! Whether you are preparing for a dinner party before Christmas or you’re heading out for that Christmas feast with your family, don’t skip a meal. While it’s still undetermined whether breakfast is the most important meal of the day, we highly recommend you eating a reasonably filled protein packed breakfast that will keep you full longer before you head off for the afternoon.
Pro-tip: Starving yourself or skipping meals only makes you binge later.
2. Chew Your Food And Drink Your Beverage Slowly
The great thing about celebrating the Christmas season— it’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon, so remember to finish your first bite before you start on your second and nurse your wine or beer slowly to truly enjoy (and remember…) the moment. Too many times during the year we indulge in our meals and snacks, not realizing how much we are eating until it’s too late. Be sure to chew, swallow, then grab the fork again.
3. Choose Your Glasses Wisely
When you catch a craving for some delicious eggnog or other alcoholic beverage, look for (or bring) a tall, thin glass instead of a short, stumpy one. When using slimmer glasses, you’ll be pouring less alcohol into your cup than you would with no-stem glasses.
4. Don’t Skip Out On Water
Drinking water makes you think you’re full, resulting in consuming fewer calories. Even when you think you’re hungry, drink some water before you hit up the snack bar to make sure you’re not mixing up your cravings. Of course we want you to enjoy the party, so alcohol is not off limits, but we do want you to stay hydrated with water as much as possible.
5. Remember The Reason For The Season
The true reason you’re here is because it’s a get-together with your family and friends, so be sure you’re getting together more with people than the table. Catch up with friends or relatives you haven’t seen in a while, find out what they’re up to, and let them know how you’re life is going. Conversation is calorie-free and can be a good time if you try to enjoy the moment with everyone. Remember to celebrate the good times with your family and friends and focus on the food at dinner hour.
6. Relax And Sleep More
From deadlines at work to spending money on presents for your family and donating to charities, while great, makes it easy to get overwhelmed in the mix of things. Sometimes, however, it’s not just one day or one party you indulge in that affects your weight, it’s indulging during the entire holiday season. Stress causes overeating, so if you’re ever feeling anxious, take a good nap with your cute and fluffy pet and make sure you’re getting your proper eight hours of sleep in every night.
7. Walk Anywhere You Can
If you’re going to be hanging out with your family or friends a lot, chances are there’s going to be some high-tense moments around, which gives you the perfect opportunity to get out of the house and walk! Taking a stroll around the neighborhood is the perfect exercise to alleviate a lot of stress and calm your nerves down. It’s amazing what fresh air can do for you!
8. Diet Beforehand
Life comes at you fast, especially during the holidays, and while we can’t always control the food served at parties we go to, we can control our grocery list. Make a reasonable plan to stick to your routine workouts during December and only shop for healthy foods at the grocery store like whole grains, veggies and fruits, fresh meats, and sugar-free creamers. Eating healthy for most of the month will help the scale move as little as possible and give you lots of room to munch on yummy desserts you may only get around this time of year.
Enjoy The Holiday!
Balance Fitness wants you to have a Holly Jolly Christmas! Even if you try one or two tips out of our list, you’re doing great! This is a time for you to enjoy and we know how much yummy desserts and beverages are at the holiday season.
If you are in need of other tips like above or are looking to build a perfect home gym in the new year, Balance Fitness has the equipment and the personnel to help you out. To learn more, give us a call in San Mateo at (650) 348-1259 or in Santa Clara at (408) 255-3010. You can also contact us online to ask any questions you may have or to set up a consultation!
