From office parties to cookie parties to delicious holiday gifts, gaining weight during the holiday season seems almost unavoidable. Not partaking in holiday treats is an unrealistic goal for almost anyone, but there are ways to make sure you don’t put on too much weight. Here are tips for anyone concerned about overeating or gaining weight during the holidays.
1. Stay hydrated - and watch sugary additives
Drinking a lot of water will help you eat less as your body will feel more full. Keep a glass of water with you during a party or alternate between a glass of water and another beverage. Be careful with the alcohol intake as well, as many alcoholic beverages are high in calories. Also, try not to drink too many drinks that have sugary mixers. These could cause a spike in blood sugar, which usually leads over overeating later on in the night.
2. Eat a normal amount throughout the day
When gearing up to go to a party where you know there will be many delicious dessert options, you may feel included to eat less during the day to “save the calories.” This mistake may lead to eating too many unhealthy foods right when you arrive. Instead, arrive at the party having had a healthy snack like nuts or fruit. This way, you’ll be less likely to overeat during the night.
3. Don’t skip the vegetables
Vegetables are a healthy way to fill you up, so when heading down the buffet line, make sure to pile on the vegetable option. You don’t necessarily have to skip everything else on the table, but eating a good portion of vegetables makes it more likely that you have a reasonable portion of everything else.
4. Remain mindful
When catching up with friends and family, it’s really easy to snack and not realize what or how much of something you eat. Try to remain mindful throughout all holiday events and remember to hit the vegetable platter at some point. Eat slowly and try to remain aware of everything you’re eating; it might help you decide whether or not to get a second helping of dessert later on.
5. Get up and move
When it’s cold outside or when we’re enjoying a party, we often forget to try to get our bodies moving. After dinner, offer to take the host’s dog for a walk or run around with the kids for a little bit. You don’t have to go for a run in the middle of dinner, but getting up and moving around will probably make you feel a little better, especially after a heavy meal.
Enjoying the holidays
Everyone indulges during the holidays, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you do too. Moderation is key, especially knowing there may be multiple parties with many unhealthy options. If you have too many cookies one night, just be mindful and try to cut back a bit the next night. This is a time to enjoy with friends and family, but if you want to make sure you stay at your current weight, these tips will help.
For anyone traveling over the holidays, don’t miss our blog on how to avoid deep vein thrombosis.
