There’s so much to love about the holidays, but there’s also a lot about them that stresses many of us out—including the prospect of weight gain or slowed weight loss progress. There’s no denying that most of us tend to eat more (and indulge in more less-than-healthy foods) during this season that we do during most other times of year. However, it is possible to enjoy some festive feasts while still staying on track with your weight loss goals. All it takes is a few healthy habits.
To learn some of the best weight loss habits to keep in mind this holiday season, we spoke to Dana Ellis Hunnes, dietitian and author of Recipe For Survival. She gave us three important tips: don’t skip meals in preparation for a holiday dinner, be sure to get some exercise, and limit your alcohol intake. Learn more about all of these great habits below!
1. Don't show up starving!
You may think that the best thing to do in anticipation of a big holiday meal is to refrain from eating for the rest of the day. Maybe you want to save calories, or maybe you just want to be sure you can eat as much turkey and stuffing as possible. Regardless of your reasoning, Hunnes says that skipping meals and restricting is never a good idea for weight loss. She explains that "when you're feeling that hungry, you're unable to make rational/healthy decisions about what to eat and instead will likely eat too much too quickly and then will feel upset with yourself." And we definitely don't want that! Instead, make sure to eat a nutritious breakfast so that you'll be able to eat a reasonable, healthy amount when the special meal rolls around.
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2. Get some exercise
Exercise is always important when it comes to health and weight loss, and the holidays are no different—in fact, making sure to get up and move every day may be even more essential during these times, when we indulge in sweet treats and large, festive meals. As sluggish and lazy as time off from work and relaxing family time might make you feel, Hunnes reminds us that you should always find time to exercise. "Just because it's the holidays doesn't mean we give up our exercise. It's important to stay consistent as it helps us feel better and make better choices," she notes. Got it! Remember that this can be as simple as an after-dinner walk—which can also help aid digestion and regulate your blood sugar levels.
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3. Limit your alcohol consumption
Where there's a holiday party, there's likely alcohol. And while it's fine to indulge in a drink or two to celebrate, Hunnes says you should be careful about your consumption. "Like showing up starving, drinking too much alcohol will lower your inhibitions and good-decisions making processes," she warns. When you drink more, "you're more likely to eat far more high-calorie foods, more quickly than if you are sober or have less alcohol." Not to mention all the calories from the alcohol itself! If you do choose to have a few drinks, she offers some advice to keep yourself in line: "Alternate between the alcohol and water so you don't get too tipsy too quickly."
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The bottom line
At the end of the day, the holidays are a time of celebration—and sometimes that means overindulgence. The most important thing to remember in these times is to be forgiving of yourself. "If you do gain weight—and most people do—don't beat yourself up about it. That's counterproductive," Hunnes reminds us. "You're better off to go back to your healthy habits than to just say, well, I messed up, so what, and I'll eat whatever I want now. Best to think of it as a holiday special event, and return to healthy eating/exercise patterns," she concludes.
