“The average American gains 5 to 10 pounds during the holiday season.”
You may have heard that before, it’s been around a long time and it’s been blasted out in the media!
But, is it true? What is the truth?
PLUS, 7 tips to avoid ANY Holiday Weight Gain!
The Truth About Holiday Weight Gain
According to a report in The New England Journal of Medicine, the average Holiday Weight Gain is about 1 pound.
However, according to another Holiday Weight Gain study, weight gain was greater among individuals who were overweight or obese! They gained on average 5 pounds!
Well, there is a little truth to what you’ve heard. Whether you are fit and trim or big and bulky, the chances are that you’ll see some Holiday Weight Gain. The good news is that the claims have also been slightly exaggerated since 10 pounds of weight won’t magically appear on your hips or belly! The bad news is that we still have a problem because we usually don’t lose that Holiday Weight Gain and it just keeps adding up year after year!
So, how do you avoid this Holiday Weight Gain?
What To Do To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
Some of the reasons for the Holiday Weight Gain phenomenon are that we take some time off from physical activity, we indulge in all the wonderful food that surrounds us and that we are stressed out to the max!
If we avoid some of the reasons for the phenomenon then we’ll avoid the Holiday Weight Gain!
Physical Activity To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
As we approach the end of the year we seem to get busier and busier. When we are busy we might get out of the routine of working out. DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN! Now this doesn’t mean that we have to do EVERY workout that we would usually do. If we have friends and family over for an evening, just go ahead and skip that workout day. But, if we have friends and family over for an extended stay, we’ll need to be creative. You do have options!
1. Walk, walk, walk.
Whether it’s indoors where it’s nice and warm or outside where it’s down right cold, you can walk to keep yourself active. The mall, the neighborhood, anywhere! Remember, EVERY STEP COUNTS!
2. Quick workouts at home.
Usually, we think of a workout at the gym for a 30-minute or 60-minute block of time. Well, you can get a decent workout at home in must 10 minutes! Do that a few times a week and you can stay active to avoid the Holiday Weight Gain. IT’S ONLY 10 MINUTES, JUST DO IT!
Don’t Overindulge To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
People like to eat and when we get together, it makes it even better. If you’re looking forward to one of your favorite dishes then enjoy it. Just stay balanced. How do you do that?
3. Choose a small plate.
If we put it on our plates, we’re going to eat it. So, if we choose a smaller plate we won’t have room for all those extra calories, right?
4. Go with healthier options.
Once you have a helping of your favorite dish, fill up the rest of your plate with healthier options. Load up on veggies and salad. Just be careful with the dressings.
5. Skip seconds.
You’ve enjoyed your favorite dish so quit while you’re ahead! If you aren’t already full then you will be in a few minutes. Just take a break, enjoy the company and relax.
6. Drink water.
If skipping seconds isn’t working, grab some water. It will keep you hydrated and keep you full. Besides there aren’t any calories in water, so have as much as you want. Stay away from soda, juices and alcohol which have tons of calories.
To keep that Holiday Weight Gain at bay, watch the calories! It takes 3500 calories to gain a pound of fat. Remember, you can indulge, just don’t OVERINDULGE!
Relieve Stress To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
The holiday season is one of the most stressful times of the year. Lots of spending, lots of company and relatives, lots of temptations and not a lot of time. It’s imperative that you plan a few stress relievers that don’t involve food. The less stress we have the better we will feel. The better we feel the easier it will be to avoid the Holiday Weight Gain.
7. Schedule in some “me” time.
Take an hour for you. Whether it’s drawing a warm bath listening your your favorite music, pounding the pavement so that you can think or punching a bag to workout frustrations. Remember to TAKE THE TIME!