Christmas is now just a matter of weeks away, and as we gear up for the arrival of Saint Nicholas, you might be starting to worry about the dreaded festive bulge.
Indeed, as a result of the abundance of snacks, sweet treats and alcohol that are constantly within arm’s reach at this time of the year, research suggests that your chances of putting on weight over the Christmas holidays are high, with the average Brit gaining almost a kilo!\
If you’re concerned about gaining weight over Christmas, then you needn’t be as we’re on hand with some useful tips to help keep your calorie intake low and your level of activity high, stopping the pile up of holiday pounds in their tracks!
Don’t Overindulge
Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room – the snacks and treats that make staying in shape a real challenge!
If you want to forgo the festive bulge then you’ll need to avoid the constant snacking and frequent consumption of high-carb, calorie-dense foods that many people are guilty of over Christmas.
This isn’t to say you have to avoid them completely. After all, part of what makes Christmas what it is are the indulgent flavours we’ve all enjoyed since childhood. However, in the interests of staying trim, try to keep it to a minimum.
Stay Active
If you do find yourself overindulging, don;t panic as all’s not lost! Consuming a few extra calories isn’t an issue and won’t cause you to gain weight, as long as you burn them off!
If you’re a member of a gym, most of them should be open during the majority of the holidays, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve which, for most of us, are for relaxing and spending time daily rather than working out.
If you don’t have a gym membership or the one you go to is shut during the holidays, home workouts could help you stay active. They can also be performed in the comfort and convenience of your living room, meaning you don;t have to venture out into the cold weather to get to the gym!
You’ll find countless home workout tutorials on YouTube. So whether you’re in HIIT, yoga or circuit training, there’s bound to be something to help you stay active and burn off those unwanted calories this Christmas.
Keep Alcohol Intake To A Minimum
Many of us are partial to a tipple at Christmas. But with alcohol seemingly everywhere at this time of the year, it can be easy to overdo it!
Whether it’s Buck’s Fizz, Bailey’s or Tia Maria, many of the alcoholic drinks we commonly enjoy at Christmas are absolutely loaded with calories which make it difficult to maintain our weight.
So while we’re not saying you can’t enjoy yourself, again try to keep your intake to a minimum and if you do down a few too many glasses, be sure not to skip your exercise routine the following day!
Meal Prep Services
Okay, so when you think of food at Christmas, chances are meal prep services don’t immediately spring to mind! But hear us out.
At a time when overindulgence can be a killer to your weight loss goals, meal prep services can help you right-size your portions and ensure you’re getting the right balance of nutrients.
But that’s not the only benefit of meal prep at Christmas. In addition to the nutritional advantages, meal prep services also provide unbeatable convenience, meaning you’ll spend less time cooking and more time relaxing with friends and family.
So those are our top tip for staying in shape this Christmas. While this may be a perilous time for your waistband, with a touch of discipline, some timely workouts and a moderate approach to the calorie-laden foods and beverages that are all around us at this time of the year, you should manage to keep the weight off.
And a good meal prep service will make staying disciplined that little bit more straightforward.