As 2018 starts to wind down, most of us are looking forward to the holiday season. For many, the end of the year is all about relaxing, spending time with loved ones and having fun. Almost all of these involve food!
If you’ve been really good on your weight loss programme and have been seeing the kgs go down, you wouldn’t want to see all your hard work go to waste – after, all it would be a tragedy to have to lose the same weight twice!
So here are seven tips to help you keep the unwanted kilos off:
Healthy breakfast always
A good breakfast powers up your body for the entire day. Good choices include a boiled egg/poached egg with one or two Provita or plain yogurt with fruit and seeds (chia, sunflower, linseeds). Leave out bananas and summer fruits as these contain a lot of sugar.
Christmas is just one day
You don’t need to overindulge every day of the holiday season. Planning your meals in advance will help you keep focused – and look good in your holiday outfits!
Stock up on lean protein such as chicken breast, hake, kingklip, sole, lean beef/mutton. Tuna is also a good protein. Stick to green veggies like broccoli, spinach, baby marrow, asparagus, cucumber, lettuce and cabbage.
Save the potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut, pumpkin and carbs (pastas, garlic bread, rice) for special days only. If you’re at a braai or a dinner party, opt for a plate of lean protein, veggies, salads and minimal carbs.
Snack smart
Include fruits such as apples, citrus fruits and strawberries as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack. These are good source of fibre as well.
Watch your drinks
Alcoholic drinks and cocktails contain hidden calories, so, keep things low-cal. Substitute wine for gin or vodka with slimline tonic and drink water in-between.
Alcoholic drinks can contain a significant amount of sugar and empty calories. They are also linked to increased appetite.
A weighty matter
A digital bathroom scale is a good investment as it’s a great way to put things into perspective.
It’s ok if you overindulge for one day.
But if this continues, by the third day you would have probably gained 1.5 – 2kg. Do you know how hard it is to lose 2 kg in 1 week, and yet so easy to put it on in less than a week?
I’m sure you do! A digital scale will help you keep track of the effects of your eating, so you can adjust your habits accordingly.
Zzz’s count!
Get your shut-eye and your waistline will benefit because a lack of sleep can lead to weight gain.
When you are sleep-deprived, your body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol, which increases your appetite. So make sure you get enough Zzz’z.
Be active
If you’ve been regular at the gym all year round, and you’re going away for the holidays, take along your running shoes.
Wherever you’re going, make some time to go for a 20 min brisk walk.
This can be part of your sight-seeing. Even if you haven’t exercised regularly throughout the year, any time is a good time to start. It’s great for your heart and waistline too!
Vimi Kalan is owner of Eazy Slim Weightloss Clinic and can be contacted at [email protected]
