A recent study by The New England Journal of Medicine reported that the average American will gain .6% of their bodyweight over the holidays. Interestingly enough, most of this weight gain occurs within the 10 days after Christmas Day. Many of us are aware that winter weight gain comes with increased health risks. However, nobody wants to miss out on ugly sweater parties and Grandma’s fudge. Fortunately there are ways to enjoy Christmas & New Years without putting on excess weight. Check out these 5 tips on how to avoid holiday weight gain.
How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
1. Nourish Your Body
People often obsess over what they “can’t” have when they’re trying to stick to a diet. This season, don’t focus on avoiding all of Christmas cookies and spiked egg nog. Focus on nourishing your body with whole foods instead. Commit to eating a nutritious meal at least twice a day. Incorporate a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Purchase organic and minimally processed ingredients. We can’t control what our coworkers bake for the office, but we can control what we’re packing for lunch.
2. Stay Active
Colder weather and shorter days make it easy to avoid exercise. Yet the holiday season is one of the most important times to stay active. Commit to moving your body for at least 30 minutes a day. Take a walk around the neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights. Sign up for a festive 5K. Finally see what Bikram yoga is like. Or challenge yourself to do some bodyweight squats in between wrapping presents.
3. Don’t get too comfortable
It’s tempting to spend the entire month of December in leggings. But it’s important to put on your skinny jeans at least once every other day. Wearing form-fitting clothes is an easy way to monitor our weight without obsessing over the scale. When your pants start to feel tight, it’s time to re-focus on maintaining healthy habits.
4. Splurge Socially
This time of year it’s socially acceptable to eat whatever, drink whatever, and stop caring about our health. Avoid falling into that state of mind. It is possible to enjoy the holidays while staying healthy. Pick two social events a week when you’ll allow yourself to splurge. Stay committed to a routine involving healthy habits the rest of the week. Allowing yourself to indulge occasionally reduces cravings and the feeling that you’re missing out. Limiting those indulgences keeps you on track and moving towards your goals.
5. Optimize your digestion
The best way to avoid holiday weight gain is to optimize your digestion. An optimized digestion ensures we’re absorbing the maximum amount of nutrients and eliminating the maximum amount of toxins. This means we get the most benefit from our food, and the least amount of side effects from a holiday splurge. Learn how to optimize your digestion today. Schedule an appointment with Natural Health Strategies and find out what personalized diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations are best for you.
