How to Get Back on Track and Prevent Post Holiday Weight Gain

The holiday season is all about sharing happiness, togetherness, and eating lots of delicious food. After a month of excessive binging on sugary treats, cookies, cocktails, and quiches, it is hardly possible to fit in your skinny jeans. If you are one of those who experience weight gain during the holiday season, you are not alone. Post holiday weight gain during the festive months is normal. During the holiday season, western people gain an average of 1 pound because of consuming calorie-rich foods, overeating and sedentary behavior. Post-holiday weight gain is not inevitable; a few small changes to your diet and lifestyle can help you fit back in your skinny jeans.

Here are some effective ways to avoid post-holiday weight gain and stay on track with your weight loss goals.

Stay Hydrated

If you have put on a lot of weight throughout the holiday season, now it’s time to burn more fat, flush the extra sodium and bloat from your body. It is only possible when you drink more water. Staying hydrated will help your body to naturally flush the excess sodium from your body. Drinking more water can increase your metabolism, which is important for burning fat and losing weight. In addition, it acts as an appetite suppressant that increases your satiety feelings and reduces your calorie intake. So, drink more water to keep your body active and prevent post-holiday food cravings.

Mindful Eating

It is very important to listen to your feelings of satiety and hunger. Eat when you are actually hungry and pay attention to your fullness signals to prevent binge eating. Figuring out your body’s signals of hunger and satiety can help you lose weight and maintain it for long.

Eat Frequently

To lose weight after the holidays, it is important to curb your appetite. It is only possible when you eat frequently. Small, healthy meals can boost your energy, improve your metabolism and speed up the process of calorie burning. Feed yourself with dark green leafy vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and fiber-rich foods to

Don’t Nosh on the Leftovers

If you really want to lose weight and reduce your waist circumference, you have to get rid of the holiday leftovers. Eating these calorie rich holiday leftovers is the worst thing you can do for your body. After the holiday season, cleaning the leftovers out of your refrigerator is the best weight loss strategy that helps you drop holiday pounds. Pack them in lunches for your kids to share at school or bring them into the office for your colleagues. It is a very good idea to resist temptation every time you open the fridge door. Replace the calorie rich holiday treats with fruits, vegetables and healthy snacks.

Engage in Regular Physical Activity

Believe it or not, exercise is one of the most effective ways to burn extra calories you have stored during festive winter months. To shed those extra pounds, it is advised to join an indoor cycling class, spin class or yoga session. Spending 45-minutes of vigorous workout session can help you burn calories and stave off holiday pounds. Making workouts a priority will not only help you burn extra calories and keep you physically fit, but it will improve your mental health. Exercise can boost your mood, reduce stress, improve sleep and make you feel happy.

Start Your Day with a Low-Calorie Breakfast

Give your morning a healthy start by eating healthy breakfast foods that can provide you with all the essential nutrients and fill you up until your next meal. Consuming pastries, donuts, pasta, and other unhealthy foods can increase your cravings and prevent you from losing weight. However, eating healthy breakfast foods can keep your appetite in control, boost your metabolism, and help you burn more calories. You can try healthy breakfast ideas to energize your mornings, limit your calorie consumption and support weight loss.

Eat More Veggies

Incorporating veggies into your diet plan is a healthy approach that will help you achieve your desired weight loss goals. It is highly recommended to eat vegetables every time you have a meal. It is because they are a great source of fiber which plays a crucial role in increasing the feelings of fullness, which will prevent you from overeating. Another best thing about eating more vegetables is that they are low in calories and promote the growth of your gut flora. Following a vegan or plant based dietprovides nutrients important for overall wellbeing and protect you against many serious health issues.

Follow a Detox Plan

Following a detox plan after the holidays is a great strategy to clear your body excess sugar, salt, toxins that have built up during the holiday season. It is very important to get rid of the extra salt, sugar and other toxins, otherwise it will cause fluid retention, dehydration and sudden increase in blood sugar levels. To balance the levels of sugar, salt and carbs, following a 3-day detox plan is a great idea. Replacing high-calorie foods with low-calorie, fiber-rich foods can help you get rid of belly bloating and help you shed extra pounds. In fact, detoxing is all about cleansing your body while restoring health and encouraging weight loss.

Get Plenty of Sleep

There is no denying the fact that the holiday season is a joyful yet stressful time of the year when you get overly tired and sleep deprived. When you don’t get enough sleep, you make unhealthy, high-calorie food choices that will eventually lead to holiday weight gain. Poor quality sleep can have a negative impact on your metabolism and overall health. Inadequate sleep can increase your cravings which makes it extremely hard to eat a balanced diet. When the holiday season ends, take time out to rest regularly and get seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Getting plenty of sleep along with healthy eating, will help you stay on your weight loss goal.

Set Realistic Goals

If you think that you can magically lose the extra pounds you put on between Halloween and New Year’s and fit back in your skinny jeans on January 1, then it is not possible. Don’t expect immediate weight loss results. Losing and keeping the pounds off, in the long run, needs determination, willpower and a healthy diet. Instead of expecting losing ten pounds in a week, set attainable goals by following dietary and lifestyle changes. Otherwise, you will get frustrated and lose motivation.

Get Rid of Excess Salt and Sugar

Holiday foods trigger bloating and water retention. It is one of the reasons you may feel like you have gained some extra pounds. When you eat high-carb foods during the holiday season, you store extra carbs in the form of glycogen in your muscle tissues. Storing too many glycogen than usual will make you feel sluggish and bloated. Eating high sodium foods will also cause your body to store excess fluid and make you feel bloated and heavy. Eating some foods such as celery, watermelon, yogurt, turmeric, rosemary, ginger and drinking lemon water can reduce belly bloating.  

A Word from Explore Diet

The holiday season is the time to celebrate good times and delicious holiday recipes with family and friends. Enjoy the festive months and follow a few effective strategies to prevent holiday weight gain and stay on the right track.