Ideal for those looking to step into 2021 with their best foot forward.
For some, it’s the first supermarket festive sandwiches of the year which herald the arrival of Christmas. For others, it’s that unmistakable aroma of mulled wine which puts them in the mood. Others don’t even contemplate putting up the tree until they’ve seen the ‘holidays are coming’ Coca Cola advert.
Overindulging during the festive season is easily done – all those boozy events, tasty treats and an attitude of overeating which is actively encouraged…it can make us hastily dash those healthy eating habits that we’ve worked so hard all year to cultivate.
But it’s not just our waistlines that suffer at Christmas as a result – alcohol, processed food, and a traditionally inactive season can all affect our mood, health and wellbeing, leaving us feeling pretty rubbish come the end of the festive period.
This year, however, things are going to look a little different. Nope, this isn’t another article about the ‘new normal’. Rather, here at IDEAL we’re swapping out the festive sarnies for brown bread and tuna, and it’s electrolyte charged water for us in the place of mulled wine and coke.
Though perhaps we haven’t gone totally ascetic solely for the purposes of an article introduction, in all seriousness, we think the idea of coming out the other side of 2020 fighting fit sounds pretty appealing right now. If you’re the same, then read on; here’s 5 tips for keeping to your goal weight this festive season, IDEAL for those looking to step into 2021 with their best foot forward.
FIND HEALTHY FESTIVE FOOD YOU LOVE
Even at the best of times, when the weather gets colder, we all tend to turn to those old-fashioned comfort foods to warm us up and makes those miserable winter months a little more tolerable. And these aren’t exactly the best of times, to put it mildly.
No one can blame you for seeking comfort in food which, while good for the soul, may not be so good for our waistline, energy levels and even mood. Instead, focus on making sure you’re getting a well-balanced diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, omega-3s and protein.
Now, we’re not saying you can’t treat yourself to that chocolate brownie, or other festive treats, but by making sure your diet is as healthy and balanced as possible, you’ll be helping to ensure your body is fighting fit to fend off any germs that are doing the rounds. Just imagine emerging into Janaury not having to make several New Year’s Resolutions to abstain and keep fit!
Fortunately, December and the festive season is surprisingly blessed with healthy, delicious food. Ubiquitous tangerines and ever-present cranberry and red cabbage are tasting oh-so vibrant right now, and pack loads of the good stuff your body craves. Roasted chestnuts, too, are far more than simply an enticing aroma you catch when you’re touring a Christmas market; they’re a great source of antioxidants and also contain a good amount of calcium. Result!
And instead of another mince pie because it’s Christmas, do try to keep your diet full of beneficial stuff:
- Eat more protein – Protein is necessary for growth and for developing an efficient metabolism. That doesn’t mean you have to be scoffing down loads of meat, if that’s not your thing. Consider other protein sources like eggs, chia seeds, and tofu.
- Incorporate more fibre – This helps in cleaning your digestive tract through regular, erm, flow. Fibre is common in fruits and vegetables, oatmeal and legumes. Fibre slows down digestion, making you feel fuller and preventing constipation.
- Try probiotics – Foods with a high probiotic content can whelp in initiating good digestion. Foods high in probiotics, such as fermented items like yoghurt and kimchi, help the good bacteria in your intestines work to provide you with enough energy to fuel your day.
WATCH YOUR DRINK & HAVE A HEALTHY BREAKFAST
Most of us like a tipple over Christmas, but if you’re trying to stay on the healthier side of things, consider limiting how much alcohol you drink. Alcohol contains ‘empty’ calories and is a sure-fire way to put on unwanted pounds. Also, those Starbucks lattes that we’re so fond off are calorific, to say the least. Of course we’re not suggesting you go tee-total for Christmas (both alcohol and gingerbread latte wise, or gingerbread lattes spiked with alcohol, even) but everything in moderation!
Come the festive season (especially after one two many drinks) it can be easy to indulge in a bacon sandwich, have a full on English breakfast every weekend or festive pancakes each day in the countdown to Christmas day. However, one of the easiest ways to avoid overeating is to have a healthy breakfast like porridge (most important meal of the day, and all that) which will keep you fuller for longer and less likely to snack. Here at IDEAL, we’re also fans of having a fruit salad on hand in the fridge – it’s the ideal breakfast (pun intended) and will give you a boost of much need vitamins.
PLAN YOUR MEALS
Speaking of planning what to eat, over the festive period, when you’re eating at home, you have complete control over what you put on your plate. As such, you can plan some healthy meals alongside those indulgent days.
One of the easiest ways to avoid overeating is to plan out what you’re going to eat in advance. This is particularly easy if you’re going to a restaurant – you can check the menu and decide exactly what you’re going to order. But it’s also easy if you’re cooking at home, as you have complete control over what you put on your plate. This may be necessary for a few days during the holidays – if you’re cooking for Christmas, and have plenty of leftovers, you may need to plan out how you use that food to avoid splurging on Boxing Day.
If you are cooking, and you have more food than you can eat in those few days, plan ahead for this eventuality, too! Perhaps your neighbour would like some turkey sandwiches, or your family would like to take some cake home with them? Don’t let the prospect of food going to waste be the reason you overindulge in the leftovers; find a home for them, instead.
The end result is that you’ll feel better once the overindulging is over and less likely to resort to a crash diet come January.
DIET AFTER CHRISTMAS
The experts at Shake That Weight tell us “While this isn’t a tip for eating healthily as such, it’s still essential – don’t beat yourself up if you don’t eat particularly well over Christmas. It’s a time of huge temptation and there’s absolutely no shame in treating yourself. You can always pick your diet back up in January”.
Indeed, during Christmas, when all that extra food is around and everyone has made so much effort making delicious dishes to share and enjoy, keeping to a strict, healthy diet is hard. Not only does being on a strict diet make is harder to resist food, but it won’t do your mood any good either, if you find yourself constantly breaking your diet plan. As such, if you want to diet, consider doing it after the festive season – just not a crash one.
MAKE TIME FOR EXERCISE
When Winter sets in, it’s all too easy to ditch any exercise in favour of the sofa. While the seemingly never-ending rain/cold/darkness can feel gloomy, there’s a lot to be said for those crisp, bright mornings, and stunning colour changes outdoors – dragging yourself off the sofa and out for a run or a walk is made much more appealing when you think of the wonderful seasonal changes you’ll experience.
Or perhaps indoor exercise is more your thing? While gyms and leisure centres are thankfully once again starting to open their doors, for many, for now, exercising outside or at home is preferable. If you’re confident in getting back to the gym, then these places need your support. But what if, in our post-lockdown world, you aren’t ready to head back to the gym yet?
Well, it’s time to stock up on home gym supplies. During lockdown, home gym equipment purchases skyrocketed. in the UK. The lack of supply vs intense demand meant it became unaffordable to buy home gym supplies. But now as lockdown eases, and demand lowers, the newfound availability of products means you can start to deck out your home gym for a reasonable price. Once the nights draw in and the days get a little gloomier, you’ll relish the fact you kitted out your living room with dumbbells, a pull-up bar and the rest.
Or, you can even create a free home gym with items you already own; result!
BE KIND TO YOURSELF & ENJOY THE SEASON
Whatever happens during the holidays, the most important thing you can do is to be kind to yourself. Approach your eating mindfully and from a place of gratitude. Doing so will leave you in a more sustainable position to have success in maintaining your goal weight than with crash dieting and overeating certain food groups. Good luck and we’ll see you in 2021, bright eyed and bushy tailed!