How to Lose Weight During the Holidays

Does the idea of trying to lose weight during the holidays sound completely impossible to you?  If you celebrate any of the many types of festivity at this time of year, then it’s not difficult to understand why you feel that way.  After all, the holidays in combination with the onset of winter can be a lethal combination for all efforts to eat light and exercise regularly.

Christmas Treats While You Lose Weight During the Holidays

The Christmas season is notorious for being filled with sweets, fatty foods and other temptations that taste great but that aren’t exactly the right choices for those of us who would prefer to lose weight during the holidays.

However, just because you’re surrounded by cookies, cakes, cream soups and eggnog everywhere you go, it doesn’t mean you can’t lose weight during the holidays at all. At the very least, it doesn’t mean that you will have to expect to gain.

It is possible to lose weight during the holidays or at least to avoid letting the pounds climb on.  Of course, it won’t necessarily be easy because it will require you to apply an eating strategy and keep up your regular physical activity.  Moreover, because you don’t want to deprive yourself of everything you love, the odds are that you won’t be able to lose the pounds as quickly as might be possible at other times of the year.  Still, it’s not impossible and it doesn’t mean that you need to spend the season suffering and depriving yourself of all your favorite treats.

Tips to Lose Weight During The Holidays (or avoid gaining, at least!)

It does mean that you’re going to need to pay a bit more attention than you usually would. You will need to keep up a positive attitude, lots of motivation and a bit of self discipline if you want to be able to stop the pounds from creeping on throughout the last weeks of the year.

Use the following tips to lose weight during the holidays in a realistic and practical way.

Pay attention at every meal

Yes, you may be going to 6 parties and gatherings throughout the season and this may leave you with several meals’ worth of leftovers, but there are a lot of other breakfasts, lunches and dinners that aren’t a part of this mix. Make every one of them count.

You know you’re going to be having something heavy with lots of desserts on Saturday, so for the rest of the week, focus on having meals that consist primarily of vegetables along with some lean proteins, healthy fats, low-fat dairy and lots of high fiber whole grains. Desserts can consist of berries and tropical fruits. They’re very sweet but low in calories. Try to make sure half of every plate is veggies.

Don’t Arrive Hungry

If you’re going to several parties this holiday season, it may be hard to keep up a healthy week with only one over-the-top meal.  Therefore, you’ll need to alter your strategy to lose weight during the holidays.  This will require a different strategy.

In this case, add an extra meal to your day.  Sounds counterintuitive, right?  In this case, it’s not.  Before going to any party, have a huge leafy salad (go light on the dressing!) or a big bowl of veggie soup (low sodium is best).  That way, you’ll arrive with your stomach already partly full but without having loaded up on calories.  You’ll be less likely to overindulge when it comes to the appetizer table or when you sit down to a rich meal.  Sure, you can have a taste of everything, but you won’t need to add a mountain of food to your plate to feel satisfied.

Be mindful of what you eat

Most of the problem that causes weight gain over the holidays is from eating food simply because it’s there. Make a conscious choice about every food you eat. Don’t just snack like a zombie. Decide which treats you’ll have each day and choose a reasonable portion. The rest of the time, be as healthful as you can.

There may be ten kinds of cookies and you love them all, but it doesn’t mean you have to have some of each of them every day. Choose a couple per day and make them more special this year than ever before. Savor every bite.

Exercise every day

Don’t allow any exceptions. Weather, a busy schedule and exhaustion will not work as excuses this year. If the weather is lousy, exercise indoors or bundle up. If you’re busy, get up 15 minutes earlier and get in a quick brisk walk or a yoga session. If you’re exhausted, you’ll find that exercising every day will actually give you more energy, not less.

Move around every single day for at least a half hour, total. You’ll find you’ll start feeling more positive and more awake and you’ll keep the holiday stresses – and pounds – at bay. This will make it much more likely that you’ll be able to lose weight during the holidays – or at least stay level where you are right now.

* 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.