How to Maintain Your Weight Even While Attending Holiday Parties
Much like the Christmas tree and the jingle bells, holiday parties are as much a part of this time of year as Santa Claus and reindeer. Although many people use this as an excuse to over indulge themselves, it doesn’t have to be that way for you. Get ready, because you’re about to discover the 10 best ways to eat during this holiday and actually loose weight.
10) The simplest thing that you can do this holiday season to curb your overeating is to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water daily and especially before that holiday get together. You will feel fuller faster and be less likely to overindulge.
9) Rather than starve yourself all day long to save room for every holiday treat you know you shouldn’t have, why not chow down on a couple of pieces of fruit first before arriving at the party. This way you are not as hungry and you’ve also eaten healthy for the day so you don’t have to feel guilty after the holiday gathering.
Get a little of a lot. At many holiday functions there is more food in more varieties that you can shake a stick at. What trips many people up are that they feel they have to have a full plate of these goodies and then another full plate of those goodies. That is not the case. Rather than getting more of a little, why not get a little of a lot. This way you’ll get to sample everything but your waistline will not expand.
7) Eat when you should eat. Try not to skip a meal thinking you are getting your stomach ready for a big meal later. This is probably the worst thing to do. Big meals late a night tend to stay with you for months and years to come long after the smooth taste has left.
6) Try something new for the holidays. Instead of making tons of pies and candies, look up some healthy alternatives. Choose a healthy exotic treat of fresh fruits instead.
5) Get active. Don’t see this time of year as a time to rest, relax and take it easy. No, you should take the opportunity you have with your family to get in some good physical activity. Let me ask you, when is the last time you took your kids ice skating or sledding? If it doesn’t snow where you are, why not take the kids to the park or on a paddle boat ride.
4) Don’t get lazy. Just because you may be on vacation from work doesn’t mean you have permission to take a vacation from your workout. Normally we get off of our daily routines because we are free from the cares of work and school however some thing must continue to be part of your overall healthy lifestyle.
3) Take a strategy to dinner with you and not just an appetite. It is not too reasonable to believe that you can attend these holiday gatherings and not eat anything you like. With that in mind, why not develop a strategy beforehand of exactly what you will eat and how much of it you’ll eat. As an example, if fruit cake is your adversary, why not have a piece but turn down the pumpkin pie.
2) Add resistance training to your day. We all know that muscle helps you burn more fat calories but many of us have not added a weight training routine to our healthy lifestyles. Now don’t run out and get a fancy gym membership this year, but you can start doing a little extra. As an example, rather than getting the grocery store clerk to help you to your car with your 15 pound turkey, you might consider taking on that task yourself.
1) Take a chill pill. This can be one of the most stressful times of year and if you are not careful, you can get so caught up in helping everyone else that you really forget to take care of yourself. Relax and have peace knowing that everything will get done just not by you.
These are the top ten holiday eating tips that will help you burn more calories. Take a few or all of them and put them to work in your life this holiday season. Who knows maybe you will not need that New Year’s resolution to lose weight after all.