As the Christmas holidays roll around, the first things that usually comes to mind are the endless parties as well as family gatherings. Attending events like these would mean seeing the tables lined with delicious and home-made meals and desserts. Not only that your work office would also be busy celebrating and naturally, but various foods will also be served. Turning your head away from all the yummy foods is extremely challenging during this holiday season.
It’s easy to get carried away and vow to lose all the excess weight once the holiday season is over. However, when we mindlessly indulge ourselves and not slow down on unhealthy foods, it can result in a negative impact on our waistline and health.
However, there are ways to beat the guilt of overeating and how to stay healthy. Below are top ten tips compiled to help you make the most of your holiday season while avoiding overindulgence.
- Always start the day with a heavy and hearty breakfast
When you skip breakfast, it can end up being a disaster. Doing so can only make you fill up on sugary treats in the middle of the day. Not only that, but you will also tend to overindulge during office lunch and eat more than you should.
Instead of missing on the most important meal, get your day started with a hearty and healthy breakfast. Fill up on whole grains, protein-filled foods like eggs, or oatmeal porridge with blueberries and fruit to help you keep the midmorning sweet cravings at bay.
- Make sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
Drinking enough water in a day can help keep us healthy. Additionally, filling up on plenty of fluids can make you feel full. On a day before heading out for a party, make the effort of drinking at least 6 to 8 glasses of water. Alternatively, you can also opt for fresh juice. After eating a huge dinner, you can cap off the night with a cup of warm herbal tea of your choice. Drinking green tea before bedtime is a better option when it comes to tea.
- Never arrive at a party feeling famished
When we know that we are attending a party or family gathering in the evening, we tend to eat less during the day. However, doing this is not ideal because it will only lead to overindulgence or worse, overeating.
You can avoid reaching out for a second serving of chocolate cake by having a healthy snack pre-party. You can munch on generous slices of fruits like berries and bananas, or have yourself some yogurt or nibble on nuts.
- Try and avoid the buffet line
The holiday season can often mean office parties with a buffet table. Buffet would mean unlimited servings of unhealthy foods. When a buffet is unavoidable, trick your mind by using a smaller plate. Try to lessen your servings and go for salads and protein-filled food like chicken or fish.
- Limit your alcohol consumption
It’s simple to get carried away with drinking wine and other alcohol when they’re frequently being served in gatherings. However, drinking too much can not only give you a terrible hangover in the morning, but it can also result in negative effects on your health and weight because of its empty calories.
Instead, limit your alcohol consumption to drinking one glass of wine or replace it with healthier options like juice or water.
- Insert some light to moderate exercises in between your daily routine
The holiday season is also a notorious time for making us feel lazy and lethargic, especially after pigging out on your favorite foods. Instead of plopping on your couch and watch TV, keep yourself active by doing light movements like clearing the table, washing the dishes and cleaning up.
Additionally, keep yourself active by doing some exercises before you start your day. This can help keep the holiday weight at a minimum and helps with maintaining a healthy metabolism.
- Choose only your favorite food to indulge
Holiday parties and gatherings would usually display a variety of desserts and snacks on the table. To keep yourself from overindulging and filling your plate with each of everything, choose the ones that you like and miss out on the rest.
- Avoid overstocking your pantry with unnecessary junk food and treats
When we go shopping for our holiday needs, we sometimes end up also filling our cart with unhealthy junk foods and sugary treats. Try and avoid this by making a list of the things that you would only need to prepare for gatherings and events. Moreover, keep away from unhealthy snacks and stocking them up in the pantry for you and your family’s easy access. You’re doing your health and weight a favor by staying healthy.
- Avoid preparing extra dishes during meals
The holiday season would usually have us prepare extra dishes and meals for our guests. This is essentially a bad idea because it can also lead to overindulgence and overeating. When preparing for guests, know how many are attending and prepare only enough for them. If you’re the one doing the cooking, go for preparing savory but healthier meals and avoid the catering.
- Keep yourself from getting stressed
This holiday season is also known to make most people stressed. It is because of the shopping, preparation, cleaning, and cooking that makes it easy to get run down. When we are stressed, we tend to reward ourselves by filling up on sweet treats and junk food.
Impressing your guests and relatives isn’t worth getting stressed over. Christmas is a season that happens every year, so it’s not necessary to make everything so perfect.
With these tips, you won’t have to find an excuse not to stay healthy as well as lose weight. While it is also important to enjoy this holiday season with friends and family, it is just as important to be mindful about what you do and eat. That said, have a jolly and happy Christmas!
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