The holiday season is known as a difficult time for those trying to begin or maintain a diet. It does not have to be this way. Using the strategies outlined here, you will be able to make it through without falling out of your fitness routine.
Track Calories
Calorie tracking is an excellent general practice that becomes even more valuable during the holiday season. Knowing how many calories are in your meals will allow you to portion out your food to ensure that you are staying healthy. There are many ways to do this, but the most common is to download MyFitnessPal for your smartphone, as it is free and easy to use. To keep things simple: If you are trying to lose weight or avoid gaining extra holiday pounds, eat fewer calories than you burn, creating an energy deficit. If you know that you are going to be eating a large holiday meal for dinner, map out a light breakfast or lunch to stay in the correct range.
Plan FOR POSSIBLE Cheat Days
The most common occasions where people overeat are Thanksgiving and Christmas. These are only two days out of the holiday season and they are a month apart. Staying vigilant on all other days of the calendar will allow you some more breathing room if you go overboard on the turkey and mashed potatoes.
USE HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES WHEN PREPARING FOOD
Cooking for the whole family? Tasked to bring something for the potluck? When you cook from scratch you have more control over what you eat. Try replacing some ingredients with healthier options. For example, if your recipe calls for butter, try any of its substitutes. Making mashed potatoes? How about making a hybrid mashed potatoes-cauliflower?
Stay Consistent
The never ending temptation of sweets and unhealthy food around the holiday season can bring many pitfalls. The best thing you can do for yourself is to commit to a healthy lifestyle in the long term. If you slip up once and are horrified to see the number on the scale the next morning, do not panic or quit altogether. Most of that is water weight from high sodium foods and it will normalize in a few days. One mistake will not derail you, but multiple lapses in judgment will add up over time. Stay on the path and be thankful that you did.
Lastly, it is important to remind yourself that you are mentally strong enough to ignore cravings. You know that binging on food is not healthy, so stay centered and don't do it. Need help crafting a diet plan? Do not hesitate to contact us. We can help you achieve your goals.
