how to not gain weight during the holidays
The sugar season is here! Instead of eating treats from Halloween to New Year’s, look at it in a different way. If you have a few pieces of candy on Halloween or a cocktail at a costume party and you eat healthy and exercise until Thanksgiving, you can enjoy your favorite traditional foods. Then you eat healthily and exercise until Christmas and enjoy your holiday meal. Eat healthy and exercise until New Year’s and you can start your new year off in a much better place. It’s okay to gain 2-3 pounds during the holidays, and then go back to a healthy diet and lifestyle and by the end of January you will be back to where you were in October. Just pace yourself and not overdo it so you have 10 or more pounds to lose and have a hard time getting them off. Remember to watch your portion size and choose healthier versions of desserts or avoid them all together.
For every extra 3600 calories consumed, one pound is gained. Keep in mind that a 16-ounce bottle of water weighs one pound, and it will show up on the scales too, but not for long. Our bodies need to be well hydrated to function optimally, but it will excrete what is not needed. Weigh yourself at the same time every morning without clothes and after elimination to get a true picture of your status. Weight does fluctuate a bit and can also be caused by lack of sleep or excess cortisol from stress. Keep in mind that sugar raises cortisol and has a negative effect on blood sugar which can also impact weight. It’s not all about calories in and calories out. Holidays can be stressful, so be mindful of ways to keep stress minimized. My next blog will provide some tips.
If you surf the internet, you can find many healthy versions of holiday favorites. I have been forced to because of autoimmune issues that cause inflammation which leads to pain and weight gain. I now enjoy my holidays and rarely gain any weight at all. When you eat whole organic fresh foods and avoid inflammatory oils and processed foods, it is much easier to keep weight off and the pain and inflammation away.
If you have multiple parties you want to attend, eat a little bit before you leave home, so you won’t be starving when you get there and again, watch your portion sizes. Protein is satisfying and helps to balance your blood sugar as does staying well hydrated. Eat slower and stop eating when you are 80% full. Remember the holidays are a time to enjoy friends and family so socialize and have fun and make your memories about the people you love rather than focusing on the food.
Remember, if you have any type of metabolic condition, eat the way that is best for you. If you’re not sure what that is, I can help. I am a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach and I help clients lose weight and keep it off by helping them to choose a way of eating that best supports their conditions. If you have heart disease, diabetes, an autoimmune condition or just simply want to lose weight I can help you achieve that goal. For a free consultation, on the home page click on “ Click here to get started”, complete and submit the brief questionnaire and we can schedule a time to talk more about your goals.
Happy Holidays!