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vest (30% off code friends) // similar long sleeve // similar leggings
It’s that time of year again where I am filling up my calendar left and right with Holiday Parties galore. I love all the festivities and there’s is no doubt that this is one of my most favorite times of the year! With that being said…. it’s the one time of year that I really have to watch what I am eating and really make sure that I’m not missing my workouts.
Last year, I broke down how much weight the average person gains during the Holidays and it’s not pretty.
You can read the whole post here!
There are more parties than usual, there is more drinking, more opportunities to eat poorly and more opportunities to gain unhealthy weight. You may try to use excuses like,
“It’s the Holiday’s, I deserve this.”
“Why should I even bother starting now? Thanksgiving is next week and then it is Christmas! I’ll lose weight after the New Year”
“Well, I ate that pie at lunch…. looks like I messed up for today. I’ll just try again tomorrow!”
The problem with excuses like these is that they are setting you up for failure. The truth is, if you’re waiting until January to start getting healthy and continue putting off changing your lifestyle then you have already failed. If you’re planning to start in the New Year, you will be starting at a much harder (& larger) state then you are now. Not to mention, 80% of weight loss News Years Resolutions FAIL by February. It turns into a vicious cycle…..and the next thing you know, it’s the Holiday Season once again and you haven’t lost the weight from last year.
I don’t want that for me and I don’t want that for you so here are my tips to avoid Holiday Weight Gain while also living a little!
Simple Tips To Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
Bring Your Own Healthy Dish
If you’re worried about not having any healthy options at your Holiday gatherings then be the person to bring a healthy dish or two!! If you need some suggestions, I have a few past posts on healthy dishes below 🙂
Start an Active Holiday Tradition!
Every year, my family walks/runs in the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning! We have run the Turkey Trot in Houston, Los Angeles, Dallas, Canton, and Austin! It’s a great way to start your Holiday off, bonding with your family. Plus, you’ll feel so much less guilty enjoying your Thanksgiving favorites later on that day.
If you would like to sign up for Houston’s Turkey Trot, you can do so here!! Use the code: 30LAUREN to receive 30% off!
I’ll be there and if you see me, please come say hi!!! Colton, Bentley and I will be running the 5k 🙂
Workout First Thing in the Morning
Knock out your workout first thing in the morning before you talk yourself out of it later on in the day.
Not a member of a gym? Take advantage of all the Holiday Deals most gyms are having!
Pick Your Go-to Holiday Cocktails
Stay away from the sugary ciders, cocktails, sangrias, and eggnog concoctions. The more simple the drink, the better. Red Wine is my go-to but clear liquor with low-calorie mixers are also great options. If you like beer, try lighter and lower carb beer. like Shiner Blonde,
Decide What is Worth It
If you look forward to your Mom’s famous Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls every single year, then have them!! But if you’re at a random Christmas party where cookies are laying out…… you can avoid those. Just because something is in front of you doesn’t mean you have to eat it.
Take it easy on the Starbucks Holiday Drinks
Starbucks Holiday drinks are all the craze (especially with the bloggers) and I get it, they’re delicious but a Pumpkin Spice Latte is 380 calories and has 49 grams of sugar. That’s a whole lot of sugar yall. If it’s you’re favorite drink, then enjoy yourself and have one but just maybe don’t have one everyday lol. Like I said above, you decide what’s worth it.
My Go-To Starbucks Order: Grande Blonde Roast ( or Pike Place ) Coffee, with Almond (or Non-Fat) Milk and dash of Cinnamon.
Regift tins of Candies and Baked Sweets
Receiving unwanted Holiday Treats as gifts? Instead of snacking on them all season long, regift them, take them to a holiday party or give them as a gift to the homeless man by your street…..
Tell Your Co-workers to Back Off
Lol – just kidding! Don’t do that!! You can be more polite than that but it seems like every office has that one person that always brings in treats and forces everyone to eat it. Kindly tell them that it looks delicious, but that you will be having another dessert that afternoon.
Blame it on an Allergy
I swear I’m not trying to turn ya’ll into liars-lol!! I just know the struggle of peer pressure when it comes to unhealthy eating. If you’re looking for an excuse to get someone off your back, a go-to of mine is blaming it on an allergy. I usually say that I am gluten intolerant. Which isn’t a complete lie…… because I have noticed how sick and lethargic gluten makes me feel when I eat it but I don’t think I’m actually allergic.
Build Your Plate Wisely
- Fill your plate with protein and vegetables first then fill in with the rest.
- Take it easy on the carbs & casseroles – but live a little too!
Wait 20 Minutes Before Getting Seconds
It takes 20 minutes for your body to realize if it’s full or not, so instead of immediately getting up for more, give it time to digest and recognize everything you just put in it.
The Three Bite Dessert Rule
When it comes to dessert, live a little and have some pie (!!) but follow this Three Bite Rule.
- One Bite to Say Hello
- Another Bite to Enjoy
- One Last Bite to Say Goodbye
Weigh Yourself Daily
I am normally very much against weighing myself daily for sanity reasons but I think it’s very necessary during the Holiday Season in order to keep myself on track. If you don’t weigh yourself, you get that “Out of sight, Out of Mind” mentality and the next thing you know, you’re 15 lbs. heavier. Plus, weighing yourself in the morning makes you more mindful for the whole day.
Personal Things I Am Doing
- Intermittent Fasting
- This is something I have been playing with the past couple of weeks and while I haven’t 100% incorporated it into my routine, I am trying! I at least suggest fasting the day after Thanksgiving and other major Holidays Party days throughout the season. So after your last bite of food Thanksgiving Day, try waiting 16 hours until you eat again. This allows your body to fully digest everything that you put into it. You can read more about intermittent fasting here.
- I’m going very Low-Carb (not quite kept thought) for all Non-Holiday Party Meals
- Upping My Workouts
- Cutting Alcohol as Much as Possible
Healthy Holiday Recipe Posts
- Pumpkin Pie Cashew Dip
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussel Sprout Bake
- Healthy Christmas Dish: Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
- Healthy Breakfast Banana Nut Bread
- Five Healthy Recipes for Christmas Day
xo,
Lauren