Tips to Manage Weight During the Holidays

Another holiday season is upon us and so begins the never ending smorgasbord of food and drinks that will be awaiting us.  but just because it is the holidays does not mean you have to gain weight.  what if we could just maintain our weight until we get back to our normal routine?

Losing weight over the holidays can be very challenging due to the abundance of parties, entertaining and family functions that take place throughout the month of December.  So let’s try and focus on balancing our calories “in” and our calories “out” so there is NO weight gain.10 TIPS TO NOT GAINING WEIGHT OVER THE HOLIDAYS

1. Start your mornings off with hot water and lemon.  this acts as a mild detox and helps the body to flush and eliminate waste.

2.  Don’t skip meals, keep your metabolism happy and you will burn calories more efficiently.

3. Don’t go to a party hungry. So many people I know starve themselves all day just so they can indulge the night of.  I like to boil a few eggs and leave them in the fridge for a quick and easy protein snack before I head out the door.

4.  Stay hydrated and I don’t mean with wine. Stay on track with your 6-8 glasses of water or maybe even a little more especially if you are consuming alcohol.

5.  Limit your alcohol consumption. in between cocktails have a soda with lemon or lime in a fancy glass- no one will know the difference and you will feel much better in the morning.

6.  Stay away from any foods that have been breaded, fried, pastry or cream based. Too many calories.  Stick to veggies, grilled meat skewers, a few cubes of cheese and small handful of nuts. use your common sense. Try not to hover around the food you will be less likely to go back for more.

7.  Squeeze those extra workouts in.  Don’t tell me you have no time.  if you only have 20 minutes then make it count something is better than nothing.  Get the whole family involved as well.  A family that plays together stays healthy together.

8.  Parking will be crazy at most malls and grocery stores so chances are you will have to park far away from the entrance.  use this to your advantage and power walk from the parking lot to the store.  if you are shopping by yourself then pick up your pace from store to store. Extra calories burned are always a bonus.

9.   Get your zzzzz’s! There will be lot’s of late nights but try to stay on track with your sleep. 6-8 hrs is recommended, as this is when your body rests, recovers and releases HGH (human growth hormone) that will help burn fat, and build muscle. as we age we produce less HGH so sleep is vital for this reason.

10.  Remember the 80/20 Rule.  80% percent of the time we make  good healthy choices and 20% of the time we indulge a little.  No one  can be perfect all the time.

Most importantly breathe and enjoy yourself this season.  The holidays are not just about eating and drinking but rather spending time with family, friends and loved ones. Things may not be perfect or go as planned but if you can learn to laugh it off you will not only reduce your stress level but laughter has been proven to work the abdominals.

Wishing you and your family a healthy, happy holiday!

[Image: Flickr user nagehan2002]

Tags: fitness, health