When it comes to the truth about holiday weight gain, there’s good news and bad news. The good part is that most people gain no more than 1-2 pounds during the holiday season. Unfortunately, the gained weight is almost never lost during the rest of the year. This accounts for the gradual weight gain that most people experience as they grow older.
Here are a couple of things you can do to prevent holiday weight gain:
- Focus on Socializing: Holiday get-togethers are a great time to socialize; don’t concentrate on the food. A good conversation can be a lot of fun and it’s calorie free. (However, be sure to stay safe this holiday season. Practice social distancing and mask wearing if you are with anyone outside of your family unit!)
- Limit Your Alcohol: Drinks don’t cause you to feel full unlike food. You will consume a lot of empty calories if you don’t limit your drinking. Try to have no more than 1-2 drinks a day and stick to water or other low-calorie drinks the rest of the time.
- Practice Portion Control: Always use small plates and portion sizes when serving yourself, and never go back for a second helping unless you are still feeling hungry.
- Make the Right Food Choices: It is impossible to completely avoid sweets and other tasty appetizers during the holidays, but the bulk of your food choices should be a variety of fruits and vegetables.
- Burn Off Excess Calories: Schedule some fun activities this holiday season. Hiking, swimming, or learning a new type of dance are great ways to burn extra calories while having fun.
Plan ahead of time to put into practice the simple suggestions mentioned above and you will have a great holiday season without feeling guilty about adding inches to your waistline. GI Alliance is the largest group of gastroenterologists. We provide high quality, cost-effective personalized care to patients regarding their GI Health. If you are looking to meet with a specialist, find a GI Alliance location near you. Click Here to Find a Location Near You
