10 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Amy Taylor December 03, 2014

December is often filled with holidays, reunions, and gatherings – no wonder why it is the favourite month of many. It’s the time of the year wherein we get to enjoy homemade delights that surely please our palate. There’s the pudding, buttery dishes, sweets and sugary pies, and a whole lot more.

Yes. They all are lovely, but can definitely lead to weight gain.

The good news is that you really don’t have to deprive yourself of your favourite holiday meals. Cutting back and making smart swaps are just among the many ways to avoid gaining extra pounds.

Eat what you love.

Don’t waste your calorie limit for foods that you don’t really like, just because they are sitting there. Save it for those that give you the most satisfaction.

Eat before the big meal.

Eating with an empty stomach can really keep your food cravings out of control. And before you know it, you have already re-filled your plate several times. A great trick to avoid overeating this holiday season is to have a light, low-calorie snack beforehand. A bowl of vegetable soup, or a serving of fruit or vegetable salad an hour before mealtime is a must-try. The high fibre-content of fruits and vegetables can do a long way in keeping your satiety levels high.

Be picky.

Before sitting down on the table, think about a few favourites that you plan to indulge in. And don’t be afraid to change course if the taste didn’t turn out as you expected it to be. You can always try something different. Who knows, it could be your next favourite dish?

Use colourful plates.

Yes, the colour of your plate affects how much you eat. Research by Dr Brian Wansink and Dr Koert van Ittersum suggests that the colour contrast between food and plate creates an optical illusion known as the Delboeuf illusion.

Dress up.

The next time you attend a holiday gathering with your friends, make sure to dress up. Wear a form-fitting garment, like skinny jeans or a curve-hugging dress. You are less likely to overeat wearing this kind of stuff as doing so can make you feel uncomfortable more quickly.

Don’t skip your workouts. Stick to your exercise routine during the holidays or start one. And if you are feeling inspired, add five or 10 minutes to it.

Drink moderately.

During parties and social gatherings, it’s easy to splurge in cocktails and alcoholic beverages. But they contain more sugar than you think. You don’t have to restrict yourself. The key is to observe moderation. If you do have more than one alcoholic drink, make a point to drink a full glass of water between drinks. It will slow you down, fill you up, and help keep you from getting dehydrated.

Be cautious of the dips and dressings. Just a tablespoon of these may contain over a hundred calories. If you can, skip the creamy ones, or opt for a lower calorie version if available.

Mind your portion.

You don’t need to ban your favourite fatty meals. The key is to be mindful. Observe portion control. Go for larger servings of healthy foods balanced with smaller portions of more indulgent and high-calorie choices.

Drop the guilt.

Lastly, don’t fall into guilt feelings, as it can lead to worse outcomes. Scientists from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand found that people who feel guilty after eating large amounts of snack foods tend to gain more weight than those who don’t feel the guilt.

December is the most fun month for many of us. And it really is. With parties there and here, it is surely a month to celebrate. But if we don’t watch our diet, we can end up gaining extra weight. Hope these tips can help you avoid weight gain this holiday season.