The endless parade of holiday foods is either a blessing or a curse, depending on your point of view. If you happen to be bulking at this time of year, good planning on your part. If, on the other hand, you are ‘shredding for summer’ and on a strict diet plan, it can be a scary time. Still, it doesn’t have to be your downfall! Try these 5 tips for keeping the weight gain in check, and start the new year one step ahead! tricks to avoid weight gain
1. OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND
The saying, “Out of sight, out of mind,” carries a lot of weight—literally—during the holidays. The more pies, cookies, and breads you have around, the more you’re going to eat. A forkful here, a razor-thin slice there, and pretty soon you’ve added another couple hundred calories to your day. Now is the time for bold action, and you have several options:
Option A: Throw it away. Just do it. Don’t worry about wasting food. It’s either going to end up in the trash can or on your waist or thighs.
Option B: If the sweet is so delicious, you just can’t bear to throw it away, freeze it. This gets it out of your sight and, if you’re lucky, when you remember you put it there, it’ll be so freezer burned you’ll have no choice but to move directly to Option A.
Option C: Bring it to work and watch your co workers eat it. They need those extra calories about as much as you do.
2. Weigh Yourself More Frequently
Are you one of those people who avoids the scales like the plague this time of year? Have you learned with the passage of time that it’s better not to know how many pounds you’re gaining this time of year? The fact is, you need to do the exact opposite and need to keep that scale front and centre!
Weighing yourself more frequently will increase your awareness of what’s going on with your eating habits over the holidays. Make a goal of staying within a few kilos of your usual weight this time, and weigh in a few times each week for some immediate feedback on how well you’re doing. Keeping within a few kgs of your preholiday weight will make it all that easier to trim up once the chocolate & excess baked dinners go back into hibernation after the new year.
If you don’t have a scale, put one on your christmas list!
tricks to avoid weight gain
3. Have A Whey Protein Shake Before Every Party/BIG DINNER PLANS
Sometime people down a big glass of water or eat a big meal before going to a party, just so they won’t drink too much. You can use the same strategy with food, but instead of drinking water, have a whey protein shake right before you head out the door. Whey protein triggers the release of several satiety hormones, so you don’t feel like eating as much as you would otherwise.
When you do eat, focus on portion control and having lean protein and vegetables.
4. Drink, But Drink Smart
When indulging in alcoholic beverages, practice moderation. Stick with 1-2 drinks per occasion and no more than two occasions per week. That may be easier said than done.
If you do plan of having a big one (we all do), then minimise your calories for that given day particularly the fat portions as the body can only focus on breaking down the toxins from the alcohol before coming back to fats. And usually more often than not it’s too late & the excess fats your consumed that day will store! tricks to avoid weight gain
Also consider sticking with lower-calorie drinks. There’s not a huge difference between kinds and brands, but every little calorie adds up.
5. Walk It Off
If you have made the decision to avoid the gym altogether over the holidays (which is fine); you deserve a break. Let the occasional walk act as a stand-in. After a big meal, walk straight past the couch and head out the door, even if it’s only for 10 minutes. Bring the kids/dog with you to help them get used to taking walks. Start your day with some power walking, and you can burn 100 calories in just 15 minutes. You can even burn calories by window shopping.
tricks to avoid weight gain
