10 ways to avoid holiday weight gain and still have fun

If you find that you have to trade in your skinny jeans for stretchy yoga pants every year once January rolls around, I have some tips that you may want to keep in mind during the holidays.

I’m not talking dieting, starvation, or deprivation.

These tips are sensible, totally doable, and won’t spoil any of your holiday fun!

Image source

1. Don’t celebrate the whole season long (at least not with food).

Feel free to indulge here and there but not throughout the entire months of November and December.  Reserve your big splurges for parties, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, for example, and avoid all of the sweets constantly sitting in the break room at work.  In fact, this is a good time to pack your own healthy lunches and snacks to help you stay on track.  One of my personal favorites are these chunky chickpea “tuna” salad wraps. 

2. Don’t make food the main focus of the holidays.

Remember that this special time of the year is meant for spending time with friends and family.  Work the room and socialize at gatherings, and don’t hang out alone by the snack table.

3. Choose your splurges wisely.

Do you really love that big slice of fruitcake on your plate?  (And for that matter, does anyone really like fruit cake?) If not, why are you going to eat it? Save your indulgences for something that you truly enjoy.

4. Never skip meals.

A lot of people will skip a meal before going to a party, but this will only slow down your metabolism and possibly cause you to binge on unhealthy foods later on.  I personally like to drink a smoothie before attending a party, so I don’t arrive ravenously hungry and ready to eat everything that I see. 

Pre-Party Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 frozen banana
1 cup of chilled almond milk
1 pitted medjool date
1/2 tablespoon of almond butter
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon of chia seeds
1 tablespoon of raw cacao powder
1 heaping handful of spinach

Directions: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until creamy. Serve cold and enjoy!

5. Have veggies with every meal.

If the meal you are about to enjoy is extremely high in calories and fat (and even if it’s not), you should always have some steamed veggies or a salad along with it. Vegetables are high in fiber, so you’ll feel full more quickly and will be less likely to overindulge.

Image source

6. Don’t drink your calories.

Unless eggnog is your most favorite thing in the world, stick with water as your main beverage. It will keep you hydrated (unlike alcohol which has the opposite effect) and full.  You can even make a few low-calorie holiday mocktails or a sparkling raspberry mocktail which is a perfect way to ring in the New Year.

7. Keep active.

This doesn’t just mean that you have to spend hours and hours in the gym. Find any form of exercise that you enjoy. Take a family walk on Christmas day. Go ice-skating with your children. Hit the dance floor at the holiday party. There are so many ways to remain active and still have fun.

8. Watch your portion sizes.

Sample a little bit of everything that you like rather than taking huge servings of it all. A lot of the time, you’ll find that a bite or two of something indulgent is enough to satisfy you.

9. Get back on track the next day.

Don’t beat yourself up if you have a bit too much to eat or drink. Just remember that tomorrow is a new day, and you can always get back on track. Whatever you do, do not think of the holidays as a free pass to pig out until the New Year.

Image source

10. Bring a healthy dish or dessert to any holiday gathering that you attend.

By taking something healthy along with you (like this artichoke hummus), you’ll always ensure that there is at least one nutritious option available. 

Keep these small guidelines in mind throughout the season, so you can truly enjoy yourself without having to worry about packing on the pounds.  After all, the holidays can be stressful enough!