Have you ever wondered how dietitians themselves stop holiday weight gain from happening? After all, if anyone would have some insight as to how to work their way around all the holiday food temptations, it should be nutrition experts.
As it turns out, dietitians do have their own strategies to stop holiday weight gain. They know the tricks and techniques to use to make sure that even while they enjoy their favorite festive treats, they’re still eating nutritious food and keeping their weight managed.
Yes, this means exercise, but it also just means that you should stay busy. If you want to stop holiday weight gain, then you need to stop yourself from getting bored. Being bored makes it easy to build unhealthy habits. It may seem like it’s relaxing, but it will often lead to overeating and skipping workouts. Instead, plan activities for your free time. Visit with friends and go for a walk with them, clean out your closet, join an art or language class, or start doing yoga.
The faster you eat, the more you’ll eat. Slow down. There’s no race to get to the end of your meal. If you need to finish faster, take a smaller serving. The slower you eat, the more of a chance your body will have to sense that it is full so you’ll have a lower risk of overeating. Remember that you don’t need to clean your plate. If you can’t get past that barrier, serve yourself less. That way, if you need to clean your plate, you won’t have as much to get through.
If you’re very hungry, focus on adding lots of veggies to your plate. Sure, you can take a taste of everything you want. But if you want to stop holiday weight gain, then you’ll want to fill up on vegetables. They’re high in nutrients, high in fiber, but low in calories (as long as you’re careful of casseroles and sauces!).
Bring water or herbal tea everywhere you go. Have a bottle of water with you in your bag. Have a bottle of water sitting next to you at work, even if you already have a coffee or tea going. Sip your water all day long and refill it when it gets low. Staying hydrated is a top technique to stop holiday weight gain and dietitians love it. Water powers you up with energy, helps you to avoid bloating and speeds up your metabolism.
* This article is for informational purposes only and not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medications, supplements, diet, or exercise routine.