The holidays are here again and although this time of year is filled with excitement and merriment, people are also bracing themselves for some unwelcome thoughts: overspending and weight gain. Between the two, perhaps the easier to deal with is overspending because you can either simply follow a more rigid budget plan or save up the whole year for the occasion. What you can’t really control as easily is the fat gain. The foods are just delicious and tempting during this season. How could you say no to them? In this article, you will learn about some practical tips on how to avoid holiday weight gain.
The first thing you have to do is condition yourself. Remember how others say it’s all in the mind? Anyway, it’s almost like that. You just have to tell yourself how crucial it is to maintain your current weight and not exceed it over the holidays-at all cost!
The second thing you need to do is stay active. The holidays will give you some time off from school or work and this means you will have some time to just slack off and bum around between the holiday gatherings. Well, before you even entertain the idea, start getting more active now. If you are enrolled in a gym, work a bit harder. If you lose some pounds, then at least you’ll have an excuse to “offset” it over the holidays. If you are not a gym buff, you can still stay active to avoid holiday weight gain. Simply take regular walks around the neighborhood for 30 minutes every day and you’ll be surprised at the result.
Thirdly, be proactive and plan smart meals for the holidays. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you have to suddenly become a vegan. Bear in mind that small changes can add up and make a big difference. For example, remove the skin from the turkey or steam the veggies instead of the usual casseroles. They are so simple but they can certainly help you veer away of unwanted weight gain!
Fourthly, practice portion control. Come on, don’t over-indulge just because it’s holiday. Remind yourself how important it is to eat and drink everything in moderation. It’s going to keep you leaner and healthier. It will also help you be around for the next holiday season. You are aware how high blood pressure and heart attacks can end your happiness too soon, right?
Finally, don’t give up. It’s normal that you will commit some slip-ups here and there. Drop the all-or-nothing thinking. You can’t just continue making the wrong choices just because you overate at dinner or you stayed in bed too long instead of taking that morning walk. Throwing-in the towel will not help you avoid holiday weight gain. Instead, it will just do the opposite. It will make you feel bad about yourself and you will be tempted to pig-out to overcome the sadness. Oh, this drama is certainly getting old! When you slip once, pick yourself up and start again. This will surely get you somewhere better.
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