Say NO to festive season weight gain
Damon has kindly enough shared some tips on how to make sure you DO NOT gain weight during the festive season. Check them out here.
It's holiday time and for most people it means being with family and friends and usually the opportunity to socialize and eat and drink.
Generally speaking, we try as hard as we can throughout the year to gym and eat properly, but then December comes along and the wheels just fall off.
So here's a plan - or shall I say, a 'strategy' to help you if you're trying to eat healthy over this time.
1. Trim back on the extras.
To shave calories, go easy when adding nuts, cheese, cream sauces, gravy, butter, and whipped cream to your meals.
2. Wear snug clothes and keep one hand busy.
When you wear tighter fitting clothes, you'll be too busy concentrating on holding your stomach in, that you won't overeat.
Hold a drink in your dominant hand so that it's not so easy to grab a snack at every opportunity.
3. Chew gum.
When you don't want to eat, chew on a piece of gum. It'll stop you diving into the buffet as you'll already have something in your mouth!
4. Be a food snob.
In a nutshell - if you don't love it, don't eat it.
Scan the buffet for foods you really, really want to eat - not just anything you can get your hands on.
5. Don't skip meals.
Eat normally on the day of the big meal...
Apparently people who skip meals to save up calories tend to overeat everything in sight once they get there.
6. Check it out.
A buffet is an invitation to eat all you can, and unless you carefully scrutinize it and make wise choices, you're likely to overeat.
Take your time and only eat what you really want to, and need to.
7. Add some dancing
The best parties include dancing, so why not make dancing after eating a new holiday tradition for a great form of fun and exercise at the same time.
8. Alternate alcohol with nonalcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic drinks are loaded with calories -- especially holiday favorites like eggnog.
"Cut your alcohol calories in half by alternating water or seltzer between alcoholic beverages," Katz advises.
9. Skip the appetizers.
If you need a little nibble before the meal, go for the veggies, fruit, salsa, or a small handful of nuts.
10. Limit the variety.
Put only two items on your plate when you go to the food table. Return as many times as you like, but only take two items each time.
