| |
 How
to Avoid Gaining Weight over the Holidays!
By Del MIllers, Ph.D.
Show some holiday control
Use these five simple tips to help you avoid that dreaded
holiday weight gain.
Ah, the sights and sounds of Christmas. People scrambling to purchase
their last minute gifts, the lights, the Carols, snowball fights
on Christmas Eve...weight a minute, what I’m I talking about,
it’s summertime here. For a minute there I thought I was back
in New York. Oh, and of course, let’s not forget all those
tasty holiday treats.
Yes, this is the time of the year when gyms start to get empty as
most people shift their attention from their fitness regiments to
celebration and indulgence. But is it possible to get through the
holidays without gaining a single pound, while at the same time
enjoying the festivities? Here are a few simple tips to help you
do just that.
1. Moderation is the key
I know you’re probably thinking, it’s the holiday season
and you don’t want to think about fitness. During this time
of the year, most people simply throw all healthy habits out the
window in order to indulge. Some even stave themselves all day in
order to eat more at the party or holiday dinner. These are obviously
two approaches that will help to quickly rack on excess holiday
pounds. The key is moderation. Enjoy your treats, but don’t
give up your exercise program.
2. Any exercise is better than no exercise
Did you know that three ten-minute bouts of cardiovascular exercise
give you the same benefits as one thirty-minute session. That’s
right. So if you don’t have time to do your full workout,
go for a ten-minute run around the neighborhood two to three times
a day. Even a ten-minute workout everyday would be better than nothing
at all. That’s still over an hour of exercise per week. However,
to get the most out of short workouts you really have to exercise
at near maximum intensity.
3. Skip the carbs, not the entire meal
As I mentioned before, most people like to starve themselves all
day in preparation for that one big evening meal. This is a great
way to put the pounds on fast. Instead of skipping your meals, simply
cut back on the carbs at your earlier meals. Have protein and lots
of vegetables only. That way if you over-indulge on the carbs at
dinner, it’s okay. If you skip the carbs, I would recommend
using a whole food
supplement so that your body is at least getting the right balance
of important nutrients.
4. Cut your calories by cutting back on your alcohol consumption
The average alcoholic drink contains 150-200 calories per glass.
Indulge in just 2-3 drinks and you've drunk the equivalent calories
of an entire meal. If you partake in these beverages, choose wisely.
For example, instead of having a full glass of wine, try mixing
half a glass of wine with sparkling water or with a diet cola. This
will help cut your calories in half.
5. Drink lots of water
The water will help you feel full and it is easy to become dehydrated
during the cooler months. Force yourself to drink more water than
you want. So there you have it. Follow the above tips and you’ll
be ahead of the pack comes January when most people are scrambling
to lose those extra pounds they gained between Christmas and New
Years.
Here’s the most important thing to remember... it takes approximately
two to three days for your body to store excess calories as body
fat. What does this mean? It means that even if you were to indulge
in your favorite treats, in moderation of course, as long as you’re
exercising to burn up those extra calories, you probably wouldn’t
gain a single pound.
Happy Holidays and remember…Just say no to New Year’s
Resolutions.
Take my 12
Week Body Transformation Challenge and WIN $1000 in Cash and
Prizes!
Return to Articles
Main Page
|
|
