Christmas is one of the most common times of the year for weight gain, so organize your ‘damage limitation strategy’ now to avoid having to diet yet again in January.
In the run up to Christmas…
- Have mini-detox days before and after Christmas parties to balance out higher calorie intake. This is known as rotation dieting. With lots of water, fresh fruit, vegetables and a little protein such as fish on non-party days you’ll still be able to fit into that little black dress on New Year’s Eve.
- Keep exercising right through Christmas – and do more to counteract higher calorie intake. If you have less time because of all the Christmas shopping, wrapping presents and socializing, increase the intensity of the workouts you do get time for.
- At Christmas parties, try the following tips:
- Choose raw vegetable crudites instead of deep fried dippers
- Avoid pastry and bread-based snacks
- Eat before you go out to curb your appetite and prevent overindulging
- Alternate alcoholic drinks with sparkling water.
Yuletide tips!
- Don’t buy too many chocolates, nuts and biscuits for the Christmas period, especially if you’re likely to receive foodie presents or Christmas visitors with culinary offerings.
- Try and limit extravagant meals to just a few special days rather than indulging over the entire Christmas period. It’s the extended over-indulgence that really leads to that unhealthy lethargic feeling and piling on the pounds.
- At Christmas dinner have a bit of everything, but keep the overall meal size small.
- Limit starchy carbohydrates by having one type of potato and passing on the bread sauce!
- Don’t put chocolates, nuts and snacks out – you’ll pick at them all day. If you must have something out to snack on, choose satsumas.
- Eat Christmas pudding later – this reduces lunchtime calories and replaces the temptation to eat mince pies or Christmas cake later on.
- Have low fat yoghurt, crème fraiche or fromage frais with Christmas pudding instead of cream, or at least choose single cream over double! Another option is to just have a very small portion of this high calorie treat.
To find out how to maintain a healthy weight over Christmas and throughout the rest of the year, read the highly recommended Weight Loss: The Essential Guide. Sara Kirkham is a qualified nutritionist, author of several books and published research.
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