Are you one of the average Americans that experiences a
holiday weight gain of 7 pounds between the Thanksgiving
and Christmas Holidays, and then goes on to attempt to lose
as much of the excess as possible over the next several
weeks? Usually, the weight is not all lost and then the
cycle is repeated the next year and so on until a
significant overall weight gain has occurred. It is
certainly better during the holidays to not put the weight
on in the first place, rather than fight an uphill battle
to repair damage done during such a short period of time
year after year.
It is absolutely possible to avoid weight gain during the
holidays, but it definitely takes a focused approach and
some discipline. This includes both holiday exercise and
food intake plans, and the need for exercise during the
holidays is critical to keeping the weight off. Here are
some basic strategies to keeping excess weight off the body
during those festive holiday months.
Let's combine some initial ideas here into some food intake
strategies that can help you feel full and avoid the
temptation to overeat. They include, getting plenty of
water intake and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Water is the most important nutrient in the body, and being
well hydrated year round is certainly important, as the
body burns more fat when it is well hydrated. Water also
helps keep the stomach felling full and naturally
suppresses the appetite as a result. Cold water requires
the body to warm it up, which naturally raises the
metabolism slightly.
The same benefits apply to taking in a lot of fruits and
veggies, which usually are a part of the party scene on a
tray somewhere along with dips and a lot of other tempting
finger foods nearby. Fruits and veggies have a lot of
fiber and are naturally low in calories, especially
vegetables, so the feeling of being full is so effective at
curbing the appetite away from the really potentially
damaging foods that can easily be overeaten if care is not
taken.
The next very important thing that is a strategy is to make
sure that you eat 5 small meals a day during the holidays.
This keep you from going to a party starving and eaeting
far too much of rich foods until you are full. If less
than 5 small meals a day are eaten, the metabolism tends to
slow, and the appetite once you get to a party tends to be
at its highest. This is a recipe for an overeating
disaster. Low metabolism from skipping meals plus
overeating rich foods because you are hungry from not
eating equals a lot of weight gain. If you eat frequently
during the day, your appetite will be lower and easier to
control and your metabolism will be at its highest, the
perfect solution for not gaining weight. This also allows
you to feel more satisfied on only one dessert serving,
instead of the huge variety that usually populate the trays
of holiday parties and tables everywhere.
Alcohol consumption is a huge potential contributor to
weight gain because of the large number of calories present
in alcoholic drinks. These calories are stored immediately
as fat and need to be burned off later by the body, so it
is vital to drink alcohol in moderation.
And finally, the exercise component: getting regular cardio
and strength training in provides the benefit it always
has: keeping our metabolism active and burning fat like a
well oiled machine.
All these things add up to keeping your body at its leanest
during the holidays, and are strategies that would be
effective no matter the fitness level or age. Have fun and
stay lean this holiday season.
----------------------------------------------------
About The Author: Charles Carter, BS in Exercise Science is
President of LIVE, llc of http://www.liveleantoday.com -
visit the website for more information on weight loss, core
fitness programs, optimal diets, and online personal
trainer and dietician services. For more information on
products go to http://shop.liveleantoday.com .
No comments:
Post a Comment