The holiday season usually results in extra weight gain for most people. Gaining a few pounds may not seem like a big deal, but that weight gain will add up over the years. Many of us allow ourselves to overindulge in December and then try to fix it by making New Years resolutions.
Here are some tips to help you stay healthy during the holidays:
Eat a light snack before you go to a party. This will help prevent you from eating too much after you arrive.
Try not to hang around the buffet table all night. The temptation to overeat after looking at and smelling good food will be too hard to handle.
Stick to your regular exercise program. You may even want to increase your daily exercise time to help burn off the extra calories.
Watch your alcohol intake. If you do drink alcoholic beverages, make sure to drink a glass of water between every drink.
Think about offering healthy foods at your holiday meal. Fruits and vegetables can be festive, delicious, and healthy.
Keep your dessert portions very small. Allow yourself a bite or two of dessert, and choose something you can only eat at this time of year so that you can really savor it.
Take it easy with extra sauces, gravies, and salad dressings. These are all full of extra calories.
If you can’t make it to the gym, find other ways to exercise. Check out our blog posts on exercising while shopping and working out at home.
Go for a walk after eating a holiday meal. Take the family or the dog with you!
Remember to relax. Stress and lack of sleep contribute to weight gain. Be sure to get enough sleep, and relax and enjoy the holidays!
