5 Simple ways to watch your Christmas weight
Published on Wed Nov 29 2017 in Lifestyle
December is nearly upon us! Time for parties, presents and tasty treats. Health and fitness may take a backseat in the busy weeks ahead, but they don’t have to. With some simple planning and easy tips you can get a head start on your New Year’s resolutions.
Here are five ways to help beat the Christmas bulge:
1. Limit your splurging
The Christmas season is often filled with more parties, nights out or takeaway meals than the rest of the year. It’s easy to get caught up in celebrations and “treat yourself” to foods you might normally resist. These splurges add up quickly, and your waistline may not thank you for it come January!
You don’t have to completely forgo holiday foods to stay on track. Instead, consider limiting the number of days you go all out. Aim for just two or three days of feasting, whilst eating sensibly the rest of the month.
2. Have a snack
Limiting how much you eat at a party might sound daunting when there’s so much yummy food and drink available. Arriving on an empty stomach increases the chances of overeating and picking high-kilojoule options. Having a small, healthy snack before you go can help stretch your willpower.
The best snacks are filling and nutritious. Easy options that you can keep on hand will fit busy Christmas season schedules. Try avocado toast using whole grain bread, apples, snap peas and hummus, cottage cheese or Greek yoghurt.
3. Choose healthier foods at parties
Parties are seldom stocked with nutritious food options, but knowing which foods to fill up on and which to eat in moderation can help your diet stay on track. Common healthier options include bruschetta, fruits, and vegetables with hummus. Avoid going overboard on fried foods, cheese platters, potato chips and sweets.
Taking a dish to a potluck? Volunteer to bring a healthy plate (or two) to balance out the less nutritious options. Sushi, avocado dip with pita bread, and chicken skewers are all tasty options that are also much better for you!
4. Watch your alcohol
It’s easy to forget about drinks when watching your weight. But both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages can add inches to your waistline. A standard glass of white wine is about 500kj, a bottle of beer averages 525kj, and flute of champagne is 420kj. Spirits are typically lower in kilojoules, but become less weight-friendly when mixed with soft drink or fruit juices.
Limiting your alcohol intake is important for overall health, but this can be challenging during the silly season. One tip to make things easier: Always finish your glass before accepting a top-off, so you can more easily count your drinks.
5. Make time for exercise
The Christmas season is a busy one. It can be tempting to abandon you’re regular fitness schedule to make time for other events. But getting back into the swing of things come January will be more difficult if you’ve gone cold turkey on exercise all month.
It’s OK to skip a few gym visits, but try not to forgo fitness completely. Fitting in exercise whenever you can helps keep the Christmas kilos off. Joining the kids or grandkids at the park, walking to the shops, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator are all easy ways to sneak in some fitness.
How do you stay healthy over the holidays? Share your tips and tricks on Facebook.
About Author: Momentum Life is a leading provider of Life insurance and Funeral insurance in New Zealand.
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