BLOG | Saving your waistline this Christmas
Christmas is a time to let our hair down and to indulge in the season’s festivities. It is also a time when most of us expand our waistlines. This, of course, has always been the case, although nowadays we celebrate for a longer period of time than we once did, which inevitably means that we collectively gain much more weight than previous generations.
Office parties, meeting up with old friends and enjoying seasonal treats such as mince pies now begin in November and run through to January, which is a far cry from the traditional twelve days of Christmas celebration of yesteryear. For many of us, Christmas Day is when our gluttony peaks, and the average UK adult will consume a belt stretching 7,000 calories!
With all these temptations thrust upon us, how can anyone survive the winter holidays without plumping up like a Christmas turkey? Well don’t fret; simply follow these five simple pointers to enjoy a happy yet comparatively healthy Yuletide:-
1. Watch your alcohol intake: Alcohol is highly calorific and it also suppresses metabolism. Opt for light beer or wine as opposed to mixed drinks, and make sure to drink plenty of water between tipples.
2. Fill up before going out: Avoid going to parties on an empty stomach. Instead, eat plenty of low fat protein foods, such as chicken, tuna or cottage cheese, before partying. Protein is a great pre-party choice as it gives you the feeling of satiety which will reduce the risk of you overindulging later on.
3. Keep exercising: It is perhaps unrealistic to maintain your usual exercise routine. However, a reduced level of activity is far more beneficial than no activity at all. Doing some form of fitness will burn off a few excess calories whilst keeping your engine ticking over, which will make it easier to return to full throttle in the New Year. If this simply requires too much self-motivation, it is perhaps the ideal time to work with a personal trainer who should galvanise you into donning the training apparel and working harder than you normally might.
4. Take healthy dishes to parties: If you are invited to a party where you are asked to bring along a food dish, make sure yours is both healthy and low in fat. This will ensure that you have at least one low calorie option to choose from.
5. Beware of portion sizes: With high calorie festive foods constantly surrounding and enticing us, make sure that your portion sizes are smaller than normal. By doing this you can afford to sample a greater variety of the many treats on offer. Delicious!
Labels: christmas, personal trainer, office parties, celebration, mince pies, christmas day, exercising, fitness, portion sizes, calories, new year, metabolism, self motivation, low fat, alcohol, yuletide, gluttony, festive
Posted by: Theo Wood | 4th November 2009 |
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