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The holidays bring oh so much joy, yet oh so much stress. Even the most dedicated of us struggle to maintain a healthy, stress free lifestyle during the holidays. Once that stress sets in, is when our willpower goes in the toilet and we eat everything in sight to make it through the day. That's when the dreaded holiday weight gain happens. Today, I'm sharing 6 ways to avoid holiday weight gain. Friendly tips and reminders and tips so you can maintain your weight and not gain weight!
6 Ways To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
Plan
Intentionally planning what you eat everyday can help you lose weight and maintain your weight year round! Having an idea of what you are going to eat each day of the week and prep for it ahead of time. Instead of coming home having no clue what to make for dinner and ordering pizza, have something going in the crockpot. This Crockpot Italian Chicken & Peppers has less than 10 ingredients and is legit delicious. As far as I'm concerned, the crockpot is your best friend when it comes to healthy, stress free eating.
The same goes for snacks, have healthy options everywhere. In your car, in your desk and take them with you to parties. I've been known to sneak an apple and almonds into movie theater or party and eat them right out of my purse. You have to be shameless sometimes. Focus on the goal, not on how you want to be perceived. People will be wishing they had your willpower!
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Hydrate
Water plays so many important roles in the body, but I can't stress enough how important it is to weight management! It's tough to remember to drink enough due to the cold winter, but your body needs just as much, if not more due to the dry weather.
Everyone should drink a minimum of half their body weight in ounces. For example, if you weight 130 pounds then you should drink 65 ounces of water daily plus more if you workout. You can use a water bottle to track how much you drink, or set out 8 plastic bottles (most have 8 ounces of water in a bottle) every morning so you know that's how many bottles you need to drink that day. It's a good visual reminder and one your body, and the scale will thank you for!
Eat Regularly
This includes treats! There should never be a time where you're starving yourself, skipping meals or eating less to make up for overeating or being stressed. These things just the cycle worst and easier for it to continue.
Eating regularly keeps your metabolism up and prevents you from getting “hangry." Once you are past hungry, you'll eat anything in sight and make poor food choices. With the amount of treats and baked goods everywhere, this makes eating them a lot easier. Eating regularly, you'll have less urge to splurge.
To eat regularly, set a schedule and stick to it. Eat 3 reasonably healthy meals every day and plan for a mid-morning and late afternoon snack. All snacks and meals should include a protein. Think nuts, hummus, Greek yogurt, lean meats, soybeans, roasted beans and protein shakes.
Also, be sure to eat plenty of fiber. It will fill you up and naturally remove the extra fluff your body doesn't need. Apples, oatmeal, nuts, seeds, vegetables and leafy greens are awesome for this!
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Bring Your Own Dish
Going to a party or event? Bring your own healthy dish (BYOD)! You bring our own beer, wine and alcohol, why not bring your own food? It's an easy way to motivate yourself to eat better while you're there, and you might even rub off on others too.
Exercise
Staying active will not only give you more energy but also ward off weight gain that tends creep on during the holidays. You don't have to pull a new year's resolution and workout until you pass out, but you should take 15-20 minutes every day to do something physical like going for a walk, ice skating, going to the gym, or taking a new fitness class.
Look for ways to increase you physical activity throughout the day. Park far away (that shouldn't be hard when you go to a store), take the stairs, get a bunch of ladies at work to take a brisk walk with you on your lunch break, play a physical game with the kids. There's so many ways to add activity into your day without making it a big deal. Being active is easier than you think.
Now, I know what you're gonna say. "But I don't have time." Stop with the but's and start with the do's! You do have time, it's simply a matter for making it a priority. You make taking your child to the doctor a priority. Why can't working out be a priority? Especially important if you want to set a good example and be healthy later in life for your kids!
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Sleep
If there's anything you do to prevent weight gain during the holidays, it's sleeping. Not getting enough sleep mean drinking more caffeine, which increases cortisol and you're energy goes in the toilet making you prone to eating sweets. It's a viscous cycle that leads to weight gain. I tell my clients all the time we can't even begin to talk weight loss until their sleep is 100%.
The biggest complaint I get from people is they don't have enough time. This gets back to planning for it and asking for support when you need it. Stop trying to be wonder woman! Ask your spouse and family to pitch in when there's a lot to do. People like to help more than you think, especially men so use that to your advantage ladies!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
Such good tips! I try to stay 100% on track at home, but allow myself to splurge at parties!
Megan says
That's a good approach Julie!
Courtney Bentley says
Simple but much needed tips! I try to get all my water in before the meal that way I am never starving and I feel super hydrated in this dry weather!
Courtney Bentley || http://www.courtneyvioletbentley.com
Megan says
Yes! We don't even realize it's that dry but it really is.
Taylor says
I always offer to bring a couple side dishes for holiday meals and I make them as healthy as I can so I always know there will be a healthy option. Hydration and sleep are definitely two points that people overlook during the holidays but can both make a huge difference.
Megan says
Sounds like you've got this down girl!
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says
My biggest obstacle during the holidays is hosting my family. It is a love hate relationship because I love having them around but hate all the treats and crap they bring with them. I can't just leave and go back to my Kale haven. I've gotten around it by putting away any kind of treats brought with them. If they buy candy I just put it in the pantry where it isn't staring at me in the face. Often I tell them wehre it is but they forget they even bought it, I purge it after they leave.
Megan says
I can relate to that. At least my family isn't bad, but there are still some things I'd rather not have in the house especially with the gluten allergy.
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
So I should just do the opposite of all of these, right? 😀
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says
bahahahahaha Susie you are a brat.
Megan says
No! Actually you need to still plan my dear...even if you're going in the opposite direction. 🙂