Image via STS Fitness
With the holiday season just around the corner, everyone is anticipating the lovely Christmas gifts and warm family gatherings. For some of you this might even be your baby’s first Christmas! How exciting!
However, don’t forget that high spirits also come with an increased appetite, and you may be worried that this will hinder your progress on your post pregnancy weight loss plan.
So here’s our 8 Tips on How to Maintain Your Weight Over Christmas.
1) Be selective of what you eat.
It’s tempting to indulge in all the delicious home cooked meals and Christmas goodies but it is highly important to be picky. Choose the food that you really love or one that brings back fond memories of your childhood. In that way, the food that you eat will have greater meaning to you and is well worth the extra calories.
2) Cut down on alcohol.
We understand that you’ve stayed off alcohol for a long time during your pregnancy and it might be tempting to give yourself a little treat. It’s okay to have a glass of wine to celebrate the holidays. However, remember that alcohol has a very high calorie count that will sidetrack your diet plans and you should opt for good old fashioned water.
3) Holiday workouts.
The holiday season doesn’t mean that you have to put your post pregnancy workout plans on hold. Keep up the daily exercises that you have set for yourself throughout your busy holiday schedule. Always find time to fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise into your festivities.
4) Stay motivated and keep your eye on the prize.
There’s nothing more important than reminding yourself of your weight loss goals to keep yourself motivated. Although Christmas is a time to let go and relax a little bit, you must remember to always keep your goal in mind…a slimmer you!
5) Learn to say ‘No’.
It’s very hard to say no to food offerings for fear of being unpleasant to the host of the house. But remember that it’s okay to politely decline any food that you think might not be a positive contribution to your weight loss plans. If you really can’t say ‘No’, a little nibble is good enough to keep everyone happy.
6) Keep calm and carry on.
You might find it stressful when organising the family Christmas dinner and this might also lead to stress related binge eating. Keep expectations manageable and be realistic of what you can or cannot do.
7) Have a full breakfast.
This might seem a little bit weird considering the fact that you’re supposed to be cutting down on food. But having breakfast will make you feel fuller throughout the day to avoid over-eating. Studies have shown that people who have breakfast eat fewer calories in a day.
8) Never arrive to the party hungry.
Prepare a meal from your usual diet plan and stick to it. Eat before you go to a Christmas party so that you won’t end up having food cravings.
Now that you know these little tricks to help you manage your post pregnancy weight loss plan, we hope you have a great holiday season and a lovely time with your family and friends.
