THE DILEMMA OF WEIGHT AND FESTIVE SEASONS Synonymous with food indulgence and good food, the festive season is just around the corner. And when you are a fitness enthusiast, how do you stay in shape during this time of the year? Stay active during the festival season During festivities even if you indulge into unhealthy food items make sure you stay active. Inactivity can lead to weight gain. Doing some type of physical activity while on holiday with your family can be beneficial for weight control.
Smart snacking With festive season, snacking becomes a common problem, with its ease of availability. While you stay at home, resist snacking by simply keeping treats out of sight. But what to do when you are outside? One can overcome these situations by being mindful of their eating habits. If you find yourself snacking just because there's food available and not because you are hungry, then stop!
However, if you are hungry and need a bite, opt for real foods. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are filling snacks that don't contain added sugars or unhealthy fats, both of which can lead to weight gain.
Be careful with portion sizes and mindful eating During festive season, we always tend to eat in huge quantities and forget about portion sizes. How to avoid that? The best way to overcome this is to weigh and measure your food, or eat from smaller plates. People are often rushed and on the go throughout the holiday season, which frequently leads to multitasking during meals. Research has revealed that people who are distracted while eating, tend to eat more than required. To prevent this from happening, eat mindfully without distractions, including work and electronics. Get plenty of sleep Celebrations equals no sleep, but how is it related to weigh gain? This is because those who do not sleep enough tend to be hungrier, consume more calories and get less physical activity. All of this happens because sleep restriction may increase hunger hormone levels, leading to higher calorie intake.
Keep meals balanced with proteins One of the biggest problems with holiday meals is that they have more carbs and less protein, which in turn leads to weight gain. Eating protein with meals, automatically reduce calorie intake by reducing hunger and appetite.
Protein is also beneficial for weight control because it increases your metabolism and levels of appetite-reducing hormones. For these weight-management benefits, you should include at least 25– 30 grams of protein in each meal.
A smart way of incorporating protein in your diet is having a shake with your meals. This can be done with a Proburst Whey Supreme shake, which has 24 gram protein per scoop.
Have a fitness buddy
Many people are successful with their weight goals when they have a partner to pursue them with.
Finding someone who has similar weight goals will be useful over the holidays, as this person can keep you motivated and accountable.
Plan ahead
Everything comes down to planning. If you have events that involve food on the calendar, take matters into your own hands. Decide what and how much you will eat ahead of time.
Draw the line
During the holiday season, many people have an "I'll start tomorrow" mentality, which can end up being a vicious cycle of unhealthy habits.
If you are serious about controlling your weight over the holidays, it may be helpful to draw the line, set limits for yourself and stick to your goals regarding food intake. It's also important to be aware that you might have a slip-up or two.
Holidays are meant to celebrate good times with family and friends. Enjoy the holidays and plan effective strategies to help you achieve your weight loss goals.