The month of December is a great time for families and friends to get together and celebrate the season. Apart from the tradition of gift-giving, what could be more festive than a sumptuous spread of rich food, overflowing drinks, and sweet treats for everyone?
However, those who have the tendency to overindulge know that the holiday season will result in the inevitable weight gain. This happens to a lot of people year after year, and it appears that there’s no stopping the pounds from coming in. But the good news is, there are several ways to avoid this, and the tricks to staying slim and eating healthy during the holidays are simpler than people might think.
Here are a few tips and tricks to eating healthy and avoiding weight gain during the holidays.
Drink in moderation.
It’s fine to indulge in the occasional glass of wine, eggnog, or other liquor during the holidays, but remember that some drinks are high in calories. The same goes for flavored coffee, and most beverages blended with milk, cream, and chocolate can easily result to 400 calories a cup.
Deputy Editor of Shape Magazine Pam O’Brien spoke with CBS New York and said that one should keep alcoholic beverage intake to seven drinks a week or less to avoid weight gain. As for coffee lovers, go for plain coffee, or have the barista substitute skim milk for cream in blended drinks.
Avoid getting stressed during the holidays.
Registered dietician Kelli Hughes told Newsplex that the reason why people overindulge during the holidays is because they try to cope with stress by overindulging in food.
“The first thing I tell patients, regardless of what they are going to eat, is that they have got to have a stress management plan in place for the holiday season,” said Hughes. “The more stressed out people are, the hungrier they tend to get.”
Don’t go to a party hungry.
Many people think that going to a party while on an empty stomach is a good idea to keep the flab away. However, those who attend events hungry usually end up eating more than they should, causing the calories to pile up.
It’s advisable to have a small snack before leaving the house before attending any party or event this holiday season. A good snack would be a few almonds, a cup of yogurt with a small piece of fruit, or a slice of whole grain toast with a smear of peanut butter.
Fill half of the plate with vegetables.
During meals, it’s a good practice to fill up half of one’s plate with leafy vegetables, then the other half could contain a small portion of meat and some starch.
Indulge in the occasional treat.
Studies show that depriving oneself can sometimes lead to bingeing during the holidays. Craving for a slice of cheesecake? Then have one slice, but don’t reach for the chocolate mousse afterward.
Get moving during the holidays.
Just because it’s cold and snowy outside doesn’t mean that one shouldn’t work out. There are many ways to get some cardio done during the season, such as walking inside the mall or heading outdoors to walk the dog. The key is to stay active instead of crashing on the couch after indulging in a good meal.
There are other tricks to staying slim while not giving up favorite foods, as previously reported by Jobs & Hire. It’s perfectly fine to celebrate and indulge once in a while, but keeping one’s health in mind will always benefit anyone, long after the holiday season is over.
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