No one wants to feel bloated or unhealthy during the holidays when they’re surrounded by friends and family. And yet the holiday season has a notorious reputation for adding fast pounds to one’s waistline. There are ways to enjoy this time without damaging your fitness goals. Here are some of the best tips to avoid weight gain during the holidays for you to consider.
Keep Working Out
Although it’s the holiday season, the most important tip to remember is to stay active. Exercise is one of the most important factors of weight loss. While diet is another important part, those who succumb to unwanted weight gain during the holidays do so because of a lack of physical activity. As you sit on the couch or stay at home due to the colder weather, your body needs more calories to keep it warm. Instead of packing on the pounds this holiday season, stay active to avoid any weight gain. Lifting weights, cardio, and even brisk walks around your neighborhood are all great ways to lose weight during the winter. You may even want to consider wearing a waist trainer at the gym for additional weight loss benefits.
Eat Right
The holidays are notorious for calorically dense, rich foods—there are boozy drinks, sugary desserts, fattening entrees, and much more. As you traverse from holiday party to holiday party, keep in mind the foods you ingest and their healthiness. Not all foods are unhealthy. Avoid foods that are rich in fats, sugars, and simple carbohydrates—they’re the quickest ways to build unwanted body fat. Instead, stick to lean proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats. You’ll feel better overall and want to stay active even during the winter. Fattening and sugary foods are okay in moderation but don’t eat too much of them or you’ll gain weight.
Stay Motivated
One of the best tips to avoid weight gain during the holidays is not to lose your motivation. Fitness goals are 365-day enterprises. You can’t build the body you want without focus, determination, and drive. Although it’s colder and you’re exposed to lots of holiday foods, it’s up to you to hold yourself accountable. Still, it’s perfectly okay to enjoy the holiday spirit. A day or two of looseness on your diet or training won’t set you back—it can motivate you to keep going and push through a fitness plateau. Instead of sulking over a weekend of holiday parties, use that as motivation to get back to the gym and perform excellently during your next workout.
