Avoid Gaining Weight this Holiday Season

The holidays are hands down the most exciting time of the year for the most of us. During the holidays is when we tend to let off steam from the hard work that we have put in during the entire year. That means food is a must and we tend to let things slip away sometimes. Gaining weight for people can be something that happens very easily. Especially during the holiday seasons when we tend to eat away to our hearts content while just lazing or even binge watching our favorite shows on television. This can obviously make us feel bloated by the time the holidays are over and it’s time for us to get back to work or school or any specific thing that you may be returning to.

In Malaysia, food is something that we cannot run away from or avoid. Food is basically a part of our culture. But also, people in Malaysia tend to ignore certain things that they can be doing in order to not gain as much weight as they normally would. This of course takes away from the fact that you cannot simple eat as you like and being wise when choosing your calorie intake. Here are a few tips that you can try implementing during your next holidays in order to see whether you can avoid that extra weight gain that you normally have, during these coming holidays.

First of all, you should start with developing habits of carrying out activities with your family during the holidays. Yes, we all tend to just want to watch sports or our favorite shows but it is also important for you to get up and walk some of those calories off. This can mean anything for you. Whether it is a short walk or a quick trip to run some errands. It seriously does just boil down to what you want to do in that short period of time. Any form of physical activity is better that having none at all, is aware to always keep that in mind when deciding to laze continuously. During the holiday season, the array of snacks which are not very healthy for you like cookies and other goodies tend to be available for you to take as you please. When the treats are easier to access, unnecessary snacking or grazing is more likely to occur and happen. At home, this problem can be solved easily by keeping these snacks and treats out of your sight.

However, this strategy would prove to be more difficult to avoid in certain situations that you cannot control, these situations being your workplace or a family dinner party. You can counter these situations by simply being mindful of what you decide to snack on and your snacking habits. If you find yourself snacking simply because there's food available and not due to the fact that you're hungry then it's best to stay away from snacking altogether. However, if you are hungry and need a quick snack, go for real foods. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are sufficient snacks that do not contain unnecessary added sugars or unhealthy fats, both of which can lead to weight gain easily.

Another way of doing things is by controlling and managing even the tiniest chance of coming in contact with food that are bound to tempt you is one way to effectively reduce your intake. While you will not be able to control all situations, try and focus on as many situations as you possibly can. For example, do you tend to keep candy or cookies at your desk, table or work space? Do you tend to frequently visit the dining room table or pantry where you store all your holiday snacks and food? Make a mental note of all the tempting places surrounding you and try to control them. For example, make a pact with the people around you that snacks and such foods will be kept only in certain areas of certain places, not everywhere where these snacks can be possibly kept. Mentally plan out how you will avoid and overcome these tempting situations. Doing this will most certainly teach you to limit yourself with discipline. You will learn to adapt to ways to keep away from the areas around you with all the unnecessary calories.



Another method is by making sure that you do not show up somewhere hungry. This can mean coming home from a workout or going to a party or even to a friend’s place. Make sure that you have had a nutritious snack before showing up anywhere. Doing this can easily help you overcome the strong urge or the temptations to jump on the food wherever you see it. And even if you may actually want a snack, always remember to drink a glass of water or something in that regard before you decide to fill up your plate.

Another method is for you to always opt for the smaller plate. Research has shown that the bigger the plate we take, the bigger is the portion of food that we put on it. One study in particular found out that Chinese buffet diners with large plates serve people 52 percent more, had 45 percent more to eat, and had wasted 135 percent more food than the ones with smaller plates. Smaller sized plates in comparison to your regularly sized dinner plates make normal portions look more filling, but do not go too small or else you will want more and you’ll be tempted to go back for a second round of food. You only tend to have a certain and limited amount of space on your plate, so do not bother filling it with foods that do not really tickle your fancy. If you’re going to enjoy yourself by having one serving of a high-calorie finger food at a party, go for the one that you really want and crave for. Just ensure to keep the amount reasonable.

Seasonal treats such as homemade holiday foods, special desserts, and cocktails aren’t truly enjoyable if they just leave you feeling guilty for the portions that you have eaten. So, if you’re going to beat yourself over a meal after you eat a meal, maybe try thinking over it. But, if you are going to let yourself have a cheat meal or snack, savor it, accept it, and then move on. Also, always be mindful to remember that if you are someone that works out, you have put in a lot to gain that body or physique and would you really want to throw that hard work away for over indulging in snacks, think about it.

And lastly, keeping a sight on your goal for the following year. To achieve and maintain a healthy weight and body, you need to make reasonable, healthy choices so very frequently that they end up turning into habits. The sooner you get started with your goal, the better off you’ll be and the goal to get a better body will seem less demanding when you will look forward to slimming down and shaping up well. The key here is not making up for all the weight gain during the holidays, but rather making small, specific changes that can have a bigger impact over time. Try replacing carbonated drinks or soda with water during meals, planning two healthy meals for the weekend, or having a schedule for strength training sessions for 30 minutes three days per week. Avoiding from the weight gain during the holiday season isn’t easy, but it’s also not as hard as you may think or make it out to be. Put these plans into practice and get the most out of the holidays with friends and family.

Finally, we all tend to love eating to our hearts contents but at the end of the day, you should realistically look at the harm all this may cause to your body just due to a couple days of eating excessively. You should treat yourself to meals and snacks of your choice, you have every right to do so but make those choices wisely and smartly. Plan what do you want and work for it. Whether it is not gaining as much weight as your previous holidays or even by keeping an eye out towards caring for your physique for the next year. It all comes down to your and what your resolution is for the holiday seasons.