1. If (when) you do indulge, forget about it and move on! It’s that simple really. With extended family lunches, picnics down at the beach and dinners that go on all night it is inevitable that you will overindulge at some point. The problem is when you develop the attitude of ‘well I’ve blown the healthy eating now, so I might as well just carry on along this trail’. A far better option would be to simply enjoy the moment of indulgence and then move on – get straight back onto the healthy eating pathway from your very next meal. That one indulgence is not going to make any massive difference to your overall weight and/or health.
2. Don’t focus on food! Yes food is a huge part of celebrations but rather than having food as your main focus try and enjoy the season for what else it brings into your life – quality time with family and friends being a stand out on my list. Make get togethers about the people and about having a damn good time rather than endless eating which only results in guilt and regret later on. I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll never regret one too many laughs with family and friends.
3. Keep moving! It can probably be expected that your usual exercise routine will be disturbed during the holiday period and that is absolutely understandable. Instead of putting unnecessary pressure on yourself to fit in exercise which is part of your normal routine, begin to think outside of the box. Think of ways that you can involve the family or significant others in a bit of extra movement or activity during the day. Get the kids to the park, play tag and climb on the equipment with them. Go for a day out and ride instead of driving. Enjoy a walk with the kids after dinner – this time of day is my favourite in summer!
4. Don’t starve yourself in preparation for a large meal! This is such a common mindset – too often I hear how people have not eaten all day in preparation for the feast that they are expecting at dinner time. This is the biggest mistake you could make! Starving yourself during the day is only going to ensure that you are extra hungry, craving anything full of sugar and fat and absolutely ready to pig-out come dinner time. Sensible eating throughout the day is definitely the way to go.
5. Be realistic! Aiming for weight loss during the festive season is pretty much a sure fire way to set yourself up for failure. Aiming for weight maintenance is far more realistic and attainable. If weight loss is something you need to achieve, set yourself a goal for beginning a weight loss program once you return to your normal routine – mid-January or even the start of February is usually a good time to start.
6. Be well prepared! Ensure that your fridge is well stocked with wholesome fresh produce allowing you to get straight back on track following a indulgent meal or day. If you’ve got the right food available at home it is far more likely that you will be able to do this. An empty fridge is an invitation for a quick trip up to the local milk bar or a great excuse for a take-away meal. Being prepared is a great weapon to avoid this.
7. Be mindful of alcohol consumption! Alcohol is an easy way to quickly and easily add a stack of calories to your intake without you even really realising it. You are also far more likely to indulge in foods you would under other circumstances say no too. I am all for enjoying a drink or two but set yourself a limit and stick to it.
Cheers to a wonderful festive season! Have fun and be safe
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