Top 5 ways to avoid holiday weight gain

The holidays bring lots of temptation—especially when it comes to treats. People follow programs for weight loss all year long and then completely blow it as soon as Thanksgiving rolls around. While we all want to enjoy our holidays, we can still do so without undoing all the hard work we’ve done this far.

Be realistic—aim to maintain. Instead of pressuring yourself to aggressively lose weight during the holidays, focus on an easier goal so that you don’t experience extra stress. Try just to maintain your weight loss and plan to re-up whatever diet or weight loss programs you want to follow in January. You can always visit one of the many medical weight loss clinics in Southern California to get medical advice on the best ways to jumpstart your diet again in the new year.

Stay hydrated. When you don’t drink enough water, I can cause you to overeat, as it’s easy to mistake hunger for thirst. Make a point to drink a glass before and after your meal, so you’re certain you won’t mistake the two. Even when you take medical weight loss pills to curb your appetite, water will make a big difference in helping to manage hunger.

Indulge—a little. When we deprive ourselves too much, we may end up overeating and completely derailing diets and weight loss programs. When your holiday favorites are in front of you, go ahead and enjoy a little bit. Eats treats in moderation and balance them with healthy foods. For example, if you’re at a holiday party, fill your appetizer plate with veggies and have a couple of your favorite cookies.

Step away from the buffet. Grab a small plate, take a little of what you really like, and walk away. Go socialize, keep yourself busy and eat slowly.  If you’re still hungry, give yourself another 15-20 minutes to see if you start to feel full. The staff at medical weight loss clinics will tell you that it takes your stomach around 20 minutes to send your brain hormones that signal the feeling of fullness.

Load up on seasonal fiber. Eat lots of healthy carbs like veggies to stay full.  Take advantage of some of the delicious choices in season, such as cauliflower, and add them into your holiday meals. Mashed cauliflower can be added to mashed potatoes to increase the nutrient content while lowering calorie count. Other great choices are squash and pumpkin—they’re delicious and packed with nutrient and antioxidant. Plus, foods like these are almost as effective as medical weight loss pills when it comes to satiating hunger.

image source: startyourdiet.com