Holiday Indulgence: How to Avoid Eating Like Santa

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, were enough snacks to guarantee you can’t button a blouse. We all know how the temptations of the holidays are overwhelming. Couple that with the self-imposed stress and it can be easy to struggle with overeating. An added obstacle is that most of us have been working from home, and in turn, less active. After such a difficult year, it’s perfectly okay to enjoy your favorite cookies or curl up on the couch with a hot chocolate. You deserve it! Just remember that to reach your fitness goals, moderation is key.

How to Avoid Adding “Hit The Gym” to your New Years Resolutions

According to Harvard Health, adding just an extra 200 calories to your daily diet during this 5-6 week holiday period could result in 1-1.5 kg in weight gain. It’s not just your waist line you have to worry about, the added stress and fat can put an extra strain on your cardiovascular system. To counter this you can add some of these strategies to make sure you enjoy the season while feeling your best:

1. Form a Routine

You may be taking time off for the season or out of the office, but don’t let that hold you back from finding a routine. Set a time to workout every day that you can always fit in, whether it’s the morning, noon, or evening. Schedule workouts ahead of time so that you can hold yourself accountable. The best part is the extra fitness gives you some leeway to treat yourself to some of your favorite comfort foods without the guilty feelings. Plan your normal meals ahead of time, then you can give yourself an allowance for those delicious extras.

2. Take 10 Before Seconds

It can take a while for our brains to register when we are full. Give yourself 10 minutes after a meal before reaching for more. Wait for your body to catch up and let you know when it’s time to put down the silverware. Not only are you saving yourself from extra calories, you save yourself from that awful comatose feeling after overeating.

3. Avoid Alcohol on an Empty Stomach

Alcohol increases appetite and lowers your inhibition which can make it easier to consume more without control. Take time to have some food before you decide to indulge. Be mindful of the calories that certain drinks can have as well. A glass of wine or a beer may set you back 150-225 calories, but that delicious eggnog can be 500 calories for a single glass! Make sure to stay hydrated with water as well.

4. Eat Before You Go Out

Whether you are heading out to your relatives or friends, or are busy with your holiday shopping, there’s sure to be plenty of opportunities to indulge in comfort food. Try to add veggies, proteins, and complex carbs to your diet to counteract since most holiday treats will be high in saturated fat and sugar that will cause your body to retain more fat. Eating something healthy before going out also gives you more energy and helps you feel less lethargic.

5. Budget Your Calories

Try to avoid doing an around the world taste test of everything at the buffet. It’s okay to be choosy and select your favorite foods. Plan ahead and know which days you want to celebrate.

Pay Attention To What Really Matters

Food is an important part of all of our holidays, but it’s not the centerpiece. Family and friends are at the center of it all. They are the ones that got you through the challenging year, so take the time to celebrate with them through laughter and cheer, even if it needs to be digitally. Let balance and moderation be your guide through this time, and reflect back at all the great progress you’ve made. The only person you need to compare yourself to is the person you were yesterday. Any step forward is progress, and don’t be afraid of failure along the way… you’re only human after all. To help you reach your goals join us at velocity-live.com for online workouts or book one at our studios. We look forward to bringing in the New Year with you!