The holidays are a great time to enjoy the company of our loved ones, indulge a little, be merry and relax! However, that doesn’t mean that you have to completely derail your fitness and weight loss goals. Here are five tips to keep the holidays from derailing your weight loss goals.
Pick Your Battles – Let’s be realistic, it’s the holidays, a time to celebrate with family, and indulge in some delicious food. However, be strategic & selective and indulge in only the foods that are really calling your attention. There is no need to derail your fitness and weight loss goals with foods that don’t really interest you.
Take Control of Your Portion Sizes – Limit your portions to smaller sizes of each of the items that you desire. You can still indulge, but you can control your intake by reducing the amount of each of the foods that you eat. This can drastically reduce the amount of excess calories that you take in.
Utilize Low-Days – What I mean by this is if you have a handful of holiday festivities on a particular day where you know you’ll be consuming a higher level of calories (holiday meals, desserts, etc), reduce your carbohydrate/fat intake somewhat (40-60%) on the days before and after your holiday festivities, but keep your protein intake stable. Additionally, you can save a large portion of your daily carbohydrates and fats and schedule them for your holiday dinner. This will help to even out your caloric intake and energy balance for the week.
Graze On Fruits, Veggies, Healthy Fats, And Lean Proteins– Mix in a handful of veggies and fruits (if available) with some healthy fats (natural nut butters, nuts, avocado) and some lean proteins prior to your main course, this can help keep you satiated longer. Additionally, it will be easier to control your portion sizes when it’s time for the main course and dessert.
Don’t Stress – If you go overboard, acknowledge it and move forward on a positive note and mindset to reach your goals. There is nothing you can do about the past, but you can control the future. Learn from the experience and discover what strategies will work best for you in the future to stay on track.
Happy Holidays from The Fitness Rebellion Family!
