During the festive period, we are all susceptible to putting on weight. It is the one month a year where we can eat whatever we want, whenever we want. Although this sounds great, it can impact fitness and health. This is why you must implement a few things in your daily routine to keep on top of it.
Eat Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The meal provides you with energy throughout the day and keeps you going until lunch. It does not need to be a large meal either. It can be as simple as a slice of toast or even a crumpet. Maybe even a banana, as this will give you plenty of energy.
Many people will say: “I can’t eat in the morning” which is understandable. However, everybody can eat a little something to kick start their day. Eating breakfast is one of the healthy things to do after waking up. It does not necessarily have to be a big meal. Just something to begin the day. You can be very lethargic in the morning, so make sure you eat. It makes it less likely for you to binge on food before lunch.
Avoid Sugary Snacks
Sugary snacks will give you a quick sugar rush which isn’t something you want. A sugar rush will soon lead to a sugar crash, making you even more tired than you are. Have some healthy snacks at your side to give you a quick energy boost before your next main meal.
We understand that it is Christmas so you will want to binge on as many sugary snacks as possible. However, we only suggest that you have the odd treat once a day. Just make sure you also have your healthy snacks such as; celery stick with hummus, carrots, nuts, dried fruit and other healthy snacks.
If you cannot resist the urge of sugar during December, bake your cakes but with a healthy twist. The more sugar you have, the higher chance of a sugar crash. If in doubt, bake your healthy festive cakes to give you everything you want.
Bring Your Lunch
Fast food is the easy go-to when it comes to lunch however this also puts on a lot of weight. Bring in your lunches as December is already expensive. You do not want to make it even more expensive by buying your lunches every day. It will save you a lot of money and keep you away from putting on weight before the festive meals arrive.
We are sorry to say it but you should only binge on unhealthy foods when you finish work for the Christmas holiday. The reason for this is because you will be eating a lot of foods that will taste great but do no good for your fitness.
Drink More Water and Non-Sugary Drinks
It isn’t just food you need to watch during this festive period. Water is one of the best liquids to keep you hydrated. Sugary drinks will also have an impact on your calorie intake. Not to mention that they will also add to the sugar crash. Another positive with water is it will help you fight fatigue as well.
There are ways that you can make water fun and much tastier. Buy yourself an infuser where you can leave fruit and vegetables in a bottle overnight. That way, it will release healthy nutrients from the food and make your water tastier. It is a win-win situation.
Exercise Daily
Whatever you do, do not be that person that says they will start the gym in the new year. If there is any time to exercise, the festive period is that time. You are going to consume far more calories than usual this time of year. This is one of the reasons why you should exercise more as well.
Your fitness can plummet when you are eating unhealthily. If you have worked hard on your fitness levels for most of the year, you won’t want it to go to waste now. Stay consistent with a little bit of cardio a day to make sure you are burning those extra calories that you are having.
Drink Responsibly
Christmas is great for several things and, one of them is the Christmas markets. One of the best things about the Christmas markets is all that German beer you can be drinking. Not to mention the wonderful cheese stalls. Make sure you only treat yourself to these now and again as this is a sucker for putting on weight.
You need to drink smart during this period. There are a lot of calories in a pint of beer which is why you need to be wise. In a pint of beer, there are around 240 calories in a pint of beer and 210 calories in mulled wine. Compare that to no calories in a glass of water you have.
After four and a half pints, you would have reached over 1000 calories. That could be drunk in less than two and a half hours for some people. Make sure that you drink moderately over the festive period. Alcohol can lead to an imbalance of gut flora levels. If you notice that your stomach isn’t the healthiest during this time, you should consider a probiotic supplement.
Summary
This time of year is all about enjoying yourself. Although, you will want to do everything moderately, especially when you are strolling around the Christmas markets. If you know you are going to have a healthy lunch or dinner, make sure you limit the calories of your other meals.
Make sure you are not relying on a healthy diet in January to recover from the calorie overload you had throughout December. Either way, we obviously want you to enjoy yourself during this time with your family. Nonetheless, do not let all of the hard work for your fitness go down the drain in a month.
Author’s Bio:
Harry Turner a passionate writer that graduated with a journalism degree last year. At the weekend he likes to go out with my friends following local football. When writing, he covers several topics such as fashion, nutrition and general lifestyle articles. Fitness is his preferred topic to write about as this is something he also enjoys.
