The holidays can often be a period of trial for many people who struggle to keep their weight under control. Holidays are the days of lots of parties, and as a result there is plenty of food around. The challenge becomes even more daunting when you factor in that you have less time to exercise and more events such as office parties, visiting relatives etc. Even the most ruthlessly disciplined people fight temptation during the holidays.
The holidays are a special time for all and you should take the time to indulge yourself. To navigate yourself in the party landmines with your healthy diet intact, you need to avoid these common mistakes:
- Mistake #1: Depriving Yourself
With all the fantastic foods available, it is almost impossible to avoid them totally. Deprivation will not help in this case because appetite, curiosity and peer pressure almost always overcome willpower. A better approach would be to eat small portions of the foods that you like so you won't be hungry and will be satisfied with smaller portions. - Mistake #2: Excess Alcohol
People who consume alcohol prior to a meal tend to eat more than those who don't. This is because alcohol increases your appetite and messes with your ability to recognize when you're full. Thus one tends to go overboard with all the holiday meals. So limit your intake to a single glass of wine before the meal. - Mistake #3: Emotional Eating
The holidays are joyful but sometimes loneliness, sadness, tension, boredom may also get to you. So make sure you include a lot of activities other than eating in your holiday planning. - Mistake #4: Succumbing to Peer Pressure
Everyone else is eating deep fried chicken tandoori so why not me? This question can derail your diet plans almost instantaneously. The simple answer is because you care about your health - always remember that! - Mistake #5: Skipping Breakfast
People who skip breakfast are more likely to snack throughout the day and increase their calorie intake than those who eat breakfast. Some people also skip breakfast to 'make room' for the parties that they attend. While the idea 'not eating' can be quite alluring when one is trying to lose weight, but it doesn't work. Also, eating something after waking up can boosts your metabolism by as much as 10 percent. - Mistake #6: Drinking Calories
People increase their liquid intake quite a lot during holidays. Liquid calories from alcohol, smoothies, coffee, sweetened juices, teas, and sodas can really contribute to weight gain. You can switch to calorie free drinks for an immediate fix. - Mistake #7: Post Holiday Diet
Unrealistic post holiday diet expectations are quite common. Most people have the best intentions when it comes to post-holiday dieting, but sadly, few actually succeed. A better approach is to eat in moderation during the holidays so there is no requirement for a post holiday crash diet. - Mistake #8: No Snacks
As with skipping breakfast, skipping snacks also slows down your metabolism to a great extent. Plus, Snacks have a bad rap because we think snacks are synonymous to junk foods. But nutritious snacks such as dry fruits, low calorie crackers are actually a dieter's best friend.
Maintaining a balance in all things, and incorporating some physical exercises into your holidays will help you to get the most out of them.
