There’s a lot to love about the holidays. And, okay, let’s admit it, a few things to dread too.
In fact, one of the things we love most… the FOOD… also happens to lead to one of the things we dread most… the WEIGHT GAIN.
Sure, the delicious holiday meals, seemingly endless Christmas cookies and cakes, and the festive cocktails and whipped-cream topped hot drinks all taste so good going down.
But stepping on the scale on Jan. 1 makes us regret every last bite, nibble, and sip.
The Holiday 10 happens to the best of us… even if yours is five or fifteen pounds instead. No wonder gym memberships do their biggest business in the New Year.
But there is a way to get the best of both worlds. You can enjoy your favorite seasonal foods WITHOUT the dread of weight gain.
Wiggle out of holiday weight gain with these tips
Thanks to all the good eats being offered everywhere you look, it’s not uncommon for people to gain up to 10 pounds over the holidays.
But you don’t have to join them this year. Because I’ve got four simple tricks that you can use to dodge the “Holiday 10.”
#1: The RULE of THREE
If you try to spend the rest of the holidays stoically denying yourself every tantalizing treat you’re offered, two things are bound to happen.
- One, you’ll be MISERABLE.
- Two, you’ll give up, overeat, and be MISERABLE.
It’s a classic no-win situation. But the “Make it Three” trick can help you avoid both. That’s three as in 3 BITES of any dessert or any other unhealthy holiday treat you cross paths with at a party or family gathering.
But only three.
This way, you get to try a bit of everything you want with zero guilt. You’ll ease the cravings that trigger overeating. And you never end up feeling deprived.
#2: Buffet Buffer
Whether you call it a smorgasbord or a buffet, the holiday season is packed with them. And while buffets in restaurants have become a bit less common with the pandemic, they’re still going strong at holiday parties and family gatherings.
And let’s face it, the smorgasbord is a minefield. It can be the willpower killer that’s the kiss of death for your waistline.
But the “Buffet Buffer” trick can help you outsmart the most tempting of these spreads.
Here’s how it works: Nothing is off-limits. But nothing on your plate can touch anything else either. And you only get one visit to the buffet. That way you can sample all of your favorites without overeating.
#3: The Host with the Most
When you’re running around playing the perfect host, keeping drinks filled and snacks circulating, it’s easy to avoid over-eating.
You’re too busy!
But it can be tough to avoid the call of the leftovers lurking in your fridge and pantry the next day. And if you’re not careful, they’re sure to cause you to gain some weight.
Thankfully the solution couldn’t be simpler. Pick up a bunch of extra food storage containers before the party. When the merry-making starts to wind down, load them up with the leftovers and send every guest home with a care package.
You’ll end up looking like the Host with the Most. And you won’t have to face the temptation of all that party food the next day.
#4: Only the BEST
From now straight through to the first week of January, you can rest assured there will be sweets and holiday treats everywhere you look.
If you work in an office, gift baskets brimming with cookies and cakes or platters of homemade goodies seem to arrive like clockwork every day. And you can’t even go Christmas shopping without someone tempting you with sweet samples in the aisles or candy at the cash register (yes, pandemic be darned – samples are staging a comeback).
But the “Only the BEST” rule can help you avoid packing on the pounds. Instead of grabbing everything in sight, simply commit to only eating those sweet treats you TRULY love.
Need an example? Store-bought cookies can’t hold a candle to, let’s say, your friend’s homemade gingerbread. So pass on the mass-produced stuff and choose to eat only the best by indulging in the real deal when you meet her for shopping.
Still managed to pack on a few pounds? My earlier report Speed weight loss and burn off fat 20% faster can help.
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