The Ultimate Guide to Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain
Let me be the first to wish you happy holidays! (Unless, of course, you watch The Hallmark Channel.)
The unfortunate reality is that this time of year gives a lot of people stress – not because of visiting family or lots of extra errands – but because they’re worried about emerging on the other side without ten extra pounds.
Let’s make this the year to change that fear!
It is possible to indulge and enjoy the treats that come around but once a year without going hog wild. You can enjoy yourself without abandoning all the ways you care for your body the rest of the year.
Last year I wrote an initial post about preventing weight creep by the numbers (things like getting 10k steps per day and not drinking more than 1-2 nights per week). But I thought it would be helpful to expand upon four key elements that are easy to do, change your mindset, and do not make you feel deprived.
To encourage and remind you to continue your healthy behaviors and mindset, I expanded upon my initial post to create this four part series, with each daily routine tweak linked below!
In fact, if you use this time to indulge wisely and treat yourself, you can enter the new year refreshed from all the fun you had with family and friends and without extra you. When this happens, your new year’s resolutions take on a whole new meaning.
Wouldn’t it be great if this year your new year’s resolution was something positive you’ll look forward to, like reconnecting with a college roommate more meaningfully, or planning and taking a big trip?
Let’s face it, January is no fun for anyone (keep in mind that I say that as someone who has lived in the Midwest or North Atlantic for my entire life). The days are short, it’s always dark, it’s freezing, the fun of the holidays is over, and once your football team is out, sports excitement starts to wane. So this is a great way to give yourself something to look forward to in January.
That’s right, a nice benefit of avoiding holiday weight gain is that it allows you to flip your new year’s resolution from a chore to a treat!
In addition, if you don’t overindulge in alcohol these news two months, you don’t need to feel totally deprived by a sober January. Although I’ll tell you, if you read part one of this series, you’ll realize that not drinking isn’t really depriving yourself, especially with all the new non-alcoholic wines and spirits!
If you are interested in my four best tweaks to your daily routine to help you fight unwanted holiday pounds without depriving yourself, read on!
I hope these help you mindfully indulge and feel less guilty about enjoying the gingerbread cookies! And who knows, maybe you’ll pick up a healthy new habit to carry into the new year!
If you are looking for new recipes for your holiday table that are both delicious and filled with superfoods for your liver, sign up below for my FREE Liver-Friendly Sides Menu, complete with a shopping list and recipes!
