Not many people out there would agree that the holiday season is the time for diets. However, if you’re currently on a diet and are looking to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle, then every single day on the calendar should be one that you’re willing to make sacrifices – holidays included.
The simple truth is that letting yourself slip up once will result in you slipping up more and more. You’ll tell yourself it’s a one-time thing, no harm, no foul, and you’ll eventually find that every Tuesday suddenly becomes a “holiday” and that you’re really not on a diet at all.
If you’re really serious about changing your life, then you should still be looking to lose fat during the holidays. There are no exceptions.
Tips to Help You Lose Fat during the Holidays
Hydration
Drinking ample water and staying properly hydrated is good for your weight-loss efforts for a few reasons. Water will help you lose fat during the holidays in part by allowing you to feel fuller. Before every meal, drink a large glass of water and then exercise portion control. You’ll find that you’ll fuller faster and for longer.
Cold water also has a great effect on your body’s thermogenic system. This will heat your body temperature up and cause more calories to burn off, meaning you can lose more weight. And since your liver can aid in breaking down that fat instead of aiding your kidneys, proper hydration attacks fat from all angles.
Fiber
It’s always a good idea to eat foods high in fiber around the holidays. Foods packed with fiber will fill you up a lot quicker and you’ll also receive far fewer calories. Fiber will also aid in digestion and be better for your overall health.
No Stress
The holidays, although supposedly a happy time, can cause some people to become completely stressed out. Your body releases a hormone called cortisol to deal with stress, and this could aid in weight gain, and you’re far more likely to shovel food into your mouth without caring when you’re stressed out. You’ll do anything to feel better, and this can lead to a cycle that causes your waistline to explode. Certainly no way to lose fat, obviously.
Proper Rest
Apart from getting the proper amount of exercise, which you should always do, you should also make sure that you’re getting plenty of rest around the holidays. A well-rested body is a fat-burning body, and sleep can also alleviate some of that stress.