8 Tips To Avoid Overeating During the Holidays
It's that time of year again. The holidays are upon us, and we're all about to get together with our friends and family to celebrate. That means there will be lots of delicious food, right?
With so many tasty treats around, it can be hard not to overindulge in everything from cookies to Christmas pudding. To help you keep your eating under control this festive season, we've put together a list of tips for avoiding overeating when the temptation is at its strongest.
Tips To Avoid Overeating During the Holidays
Whether you're trying to lose weight or just eat better, it can be hard to resist all the delicious treats around town or at holiday parties.
Here are some tips for staying on track:
Plan Ahead
Make sure you have your meals planned out for the week, or at least a few days in advance. You'll want to be able to cook ahead of time so you don't get stuck eating whatever is available when everyone else is ready for dinner.
Slow Down Your Eating
This one is really important! When you're stressed out about holiday plans and family drama, it can be easy to just shovel food into your mouth without even thinking about it. But if you slow down and savor every bite, you'll likely eat less than if you were just shoving food into your mouth as fast as possible.
Get Moving!
Get moving—and make sure there's time for exercise or something active every day! Even if it's just going for a walk after dinner, getting your heart rate up will help keep your appetite under control when it comes time for dessert or pie.
Eat Until Satisfied, Not Stuffed
Do you know how they say "eat until you're 80% full"? That's good advice for most people, but during the holidays it can be tricky because there's so much delicious food around.
So instead of eating until you're full, try eating until you feel satisfied—but not stuffed. That way, you'll feel content and relaxed after each meal or snack, instead of bloated and lethargic.
Focus On Yourself - Manage Your Stress
Most people think that when they're stressed out or anxious it's because they're hungry - but really what they're feeling is a lack of control over their environment.
During the holiday season especially, there are so many things happening at once: shopping/decorating/traveling/family drama/etc., that it can be overwhelming even if everything goes perfectly smoothly from start to finish! If all else fails - take a break
Stay Hydrated
It's easy to get dehydrated during the holidays because you're probably not drinking as much water as you should. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day—glass in the morning, another one before bed, and some throughout the day if possible.
This will help keep your body healthy and energized so that it doesn't crave excessive calories from food.
Cut Out Unhealthy Foods From Your Diet
While you might be tempted to binge on some of your favorite treats during the holidays, it's important to avoid them altogether. It's better to cut out unhealthy foods from your diet than try to control yourself around them.
Avoid Drinking Alcohol and Caffeine
Both alcohol and caffeine can have a negative impact on weight loss efforts if consumed in excess. If you're going to indulge in these beverages this holiday season, stick with one drink per day and limit yourself to two cups of coffee or tea per day (no more than one cup before noon).
Bottom Line
So, there you have it! We hope these tips help you avoid overeating during the holidays.
It can be hard to say no when you're surrounded by delicious food and family, but if you want to feel good on December 31st, you're going to have to make sacrifices. You don't have to go all out with a crazy cleanse or anything—just take it one meal at a time and try your best not to overindulge.
If you do overeat, don't worry about it too much. You'll get back on track tomorrow!