4 Simple Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

The majority of holidays revolve around gathering together and partaking of rich indulgent foods. During the holidays we will normally eat larger amounts of cookies, cakes, sweets, and other foods that we tend to avoid during other times of the year.

Here are 4 simple ways to make sure you avoid holiday weight gain.

1. Do not starve yourself before going to a holiday event. Some people will avoid eating all day so that they can save up calories in order to eat a large amount at a party. This is a terrible idea. You will be so hungry by the time you arrive at the event that you will eat many more calories than you normally would.

A much better idea is to eat a small, healthy snack immediately before going to the holiday event. If you eat immediately before leaving to go to the event, you should have enough time for your stomach to signal your brain that you are full. This will help you to stay in control whenever you are at the event.

2. Stay active during the holiday season. Do not let your exercise routine go by the wayside just because there is a special date on the calendar. If you indulge in rich foods and you also stop your exercise regimen, then you will give your body a double dose of weight gain.

3. Enjoy the foods that you look forward to eating at a certain time of year. If you enjoy chocolate covered cherries on Valentine’s Day, do not avoid eating them completely. If you love fruit cake on Christmas day, you don’t have to leave it off the menu. Simply take a small portion and savor the taste.

4. Choose healthier options for the foods that you love. If you love cheesecake, for example, it instead of eating the high calorie version, look for one that is low sugar or low-fat. You can enjoy the taste of your favorite foods without having to have all of the calories. In fact, you can research your favorite recipes on the Internet and try lower calorie versions.

Avoid Holiday Weight Gain with These Three Tips

Everyone talks about the weight you gain during the holiday season, but gaining weight does not have to be inevitable. By planning ahead you can make sure that you do not suffer from holiday weight gain. Here are three tips to help make sure you stay slim during the holidays.

1. Give your holiday meals a makeover. By making small changes in your favorite family recipes, you can help cut calories and serve a healthy alternative to your traditional favorites. Don’t be afraid to try something different during a family holiday occasion-you might be surprised to find that your healthy alternative is now the hit of the party!

The changes you make with your holiday meals can be very simple, such as taking the skin off of chicken or turkey or choosing a fruit for dessert instead of a rich cake or pie. You can also try making a fat-free or sugar-free version of a family favorite.

2. Be very careful of your portion sizes. Make sure that you do not load up your plate with holiday goodies. There is a part of us that simply wants to throw caution to the wind when it comes to holiday occasions, but if you do that you will regret it later. It is much wiser to watch your portions during the holidays so that you are not trying to shed holiday pounds after the holidays.

3. If you see a favorite food that you want to eat at a holiday function, then feel free to indulge. The only thing that you need to make sure to do is to only have a very small portion of the food you want to eat. By eating a very small portion, you will feel satisfied and not like you are depriving yourself.

If you try to avoid your favorite foods altogether, then you will feel negative and hostile and you will end up over indulging later. It is best for you to treat yourself but still be responsible.

By following these three tips you will be able to enjoy your holiday season and to avoid holiday weight gain.