We just made it through the holiday season (barely) and for most of us, that meant eating – lots of eating – followed by weight gain and a New Year’s resolution to lose weight (rinse and repeat).
Christmas is usually a time of excitement and celebration, but it also tends to be a time of high-fat, high-calorie food and lots of alcohol. Even though the average American only gains between one to three pounds between Halloween and New Year’s, those pounds are very difficult to lose. Roughly 75% of annual weight gain takes place during the holiday season.
Being part of the Christmas celebration without sabotaging your health goals may be a real challenge, but it is definitely possible. We spoke to O’Jay Harris of Body By O’Jay on having a plan of action to avoid overindulgence and beating the season-after blues.
“Too much of anything bad or good is the main cause for the additional weight gain, but it is also due to lack of physical activity and exercise. Staying active can help you manage the impact of holiday indulgences and stress.”
- Everything in Moderation
Nutrition professionals often use the word moderation, which means small portions, especially when talking about food that we should eat little to none of (but I know we ain’t having this)! My advice to you is to stay active. Too much of anything is the main cause for the extra weight gain, but it is also due to lack of physical activity and exercise.
- Stay Active
We should still make time for our fitness routine and if you can’t do that, find a banging pop mix or download a movie, jump on the treadmill and walk!
- Don’t Skip Your Strength Workouts
Always remember to perform your strength training in order to maintain that muscle mass you worked hard to get. You might be tempted to use light weights and just do some cardio, but you can burn just as many calories by lifting weights. And with all of those extra steaks you had for your holiday meals, you might even gain some extra muscle. This is much better than gaining extra fat.
- Plan an outdoor activity where everyone gets involved
Don’t collapse in front of the TV after lunch; instead head out for a walk with family or friends. A brisk hour-long walk burns around 300 calories.
- Dancing
If you are invited to a dance, say yes. It doesn’t matter if you are clubbing or ballroom dancing, dancing is a form of exercise. Energetic dancing can burn around 200 calories every 30 minutes.
- Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated could help you curb your appetite and enable you to maintain healthy eating habits.
- Rest
It might seem strange to think that sleeping burns calories, but it does. So while you’re recovering from all the parties, you will be burning around 400 calories overnight.
About the O’Jay
O’Jay is an International Fitness Association (IFA) Certified Aerobics Instructor & Personal Trainer and an Amateur Figure Competitor (Fitness Athlete). She also holds a certificate from Advance Learning Interactive Systems Online (ALISON) in Human Health – Diet and Nutrition. Follow her on Instagram @BodyByOjay
