8 Tips to Help You Get Through this Christmas without packing on the Extra Weight.

Christmas is notoriously, a time to indulge. But don’t let this be the green light to overindulge! You can still enjoy all the festivities of the season and get through the Christmas period without packing on the extra weight.

With Christmas less than a week away, its time to prep ourselves.

I am going to share with you my top 8 tips to getting you through these holidays without having to fight the urge. Yes you heard right! If you are worried about over indulging and regret, you won’t have to feel this way anymore!

1. As simple as this sounds, you need to accept that it is Christmas and if you have been calorie counting or eating healthy through the year, you probably won’t be during Christmas unless you are preparing for a contest or extremely disciplined.

Don’t get me wrong, some people out there will make the effort to calorie count still, and it is very possible to do this, you just need to know what you can or can’t eat. But most people will stop during Christmas and that’s okay. Accept it, and make sure that you are ready to get back on track after Christmas.

2. Don’t sit down all day, there is no excuse for this. I get it, after a big meal we tend to feel sluggish but it doesn’t give us a reason to sit on the couch all day!

Give yourself half an hour to feel sorry for yourself for overeating, and then you need to get up and make yourself useful. I’m sure you can help your family or friends out cleaning up after everyone; you can go for a walk before and after or even play around with the children after.

3. Drink plenty of water, you probably hear this all the time but it’s a must. Drink more water during this time then you normally would. Keep a bottle with you so it can be a constant reminder to stay hydrated.

The more water you drink the fuller you will feel, that means you possibly won’t eat as much. Drink plenty of water after a meal as well; this is very important because most foods served on any Christmas table will be full of excessive salt.

4. Say “NO!” to second servings, yep that’s right one plate is enough for you! And when I say only 1 plate, I mean don’t overdo it either.. Don’t pack on the extra food to the point where it looks like a mountain.

I also suggest grabbing the smallest plate you can see. Remember you still have dessert after, so don’t overdo it.

5. Eat more fruit during dessert time. I know most of us will really struggle when the desserts come out. So much variety and homemade desserts that everyone will want you to try.

Pick your favorite dessert and then pack on all the fruit. Family and friends will probably most likely stop pushing you to eat more. It may seem like a lot but really it’s just a full plate with mostly fruits.

6. Think before you eat. Don’t let the excitement get to you, I know it smells sensational but just take a moment to think about what you are putting on your plate.

Are you going for just the pastries? Are you looking at the salads? What types of meats are you considering? Will you be able to finish off everything on your plate? - These are the type of questions you need to be asking yourself before filling up your plate.

7. Avoid having breakfast. If you eat breakfast every morning try and skip the meal. It will shock your body and you will probably find yourself not as hungry during lunch time.

If you feel like you really need breakfast, stick to something that is high in protein such as eggs or a protein shake. You want to avoid foods high in sugars such as bread and cereals. These types of foods will spike your insulin levels, which will make you crash later and make you crave foods high in sugar for the rest of the day.

8. Take your time eating. The longer time spent eating the foods on your plate, the quicker you will find yourself feeling full. You will find yourself struggling to finish off everything on your plate.

I also suggest starting with the salad first. Fill yourself with the greens and then make your way to the meats as you are eating slowly.

Thank you for taking interest in reading my top 8 Tips to Help You Get Through this Christmas without packing on the Extra Weight. From the Freak Athletiq team, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.

Elizabeth,
Co-founder, Freak Athletiq