Did you know the average person gains 10-15 pounds during the holiday season? With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I have some suggestions about how to avoid being average.
Depending on your outlook, either Halloween or Thanksgiving kicks off what I like to call the “eating season”. Of course, food and eating are not the reasons behind the season, but it seems like the underlying thread in all gatherings of the season, no matter your belief system or religion.
So many holiday occasions center around food, family, friends, and fun. It is so easy to lose ourselves in the overflowing food and drinks that make up the parties and gatherings during this time of year. There are some simple things you can do to ensure you have fun, enjoy the season but also avoid packing on extra pounds that will just have you running to the first gym that offers $1 to join in January. (Although, as a gym owner who will be running a $1 to join special, I hope you will consider joining anyway.)
The first piece of advice I have for you may seem counterintuitive; don’t skip meals. Often when we know we will be going out to a party and having some food and beverages we think it would be best to “save” our calories. While this sounds like a good idea, by skipping meals you will simply end up famished at the party and overindulge.
Second, when it comes to drinking, live by the following motto. Drink the first, sip the second and skip the third. Alcoholic beverages, especially egg nog, are loaded with empty (i.e. liquid) calories. There is no value to these calories other than turning off your brain to get a slight buzz. Plus, if you are seeking the ever-allusive six-pack abs, you will never get them if you drink alcohol.
The third thing I can suggest is to be a social butterfly. If you are talking (hopefully about something people are interested in) you cannot be stuffing your face. Just make sure you have freshened your breath in advance 😜😜.
As a gym owner, I would advise you to do a pre-party workout. In other words, burn the calories before you eat them. I know it can be hard during the holidays to maintain your workout schedule, but this is one of the most important times to get to the gym. Between the extra food, alcohol, sweets, and family stress, the gym should become your best friend!
Finally, make sure you always have a water bottle and some healthy snacks, like beef jerky, with you while shopping. You do not want to get stuck eating at whatever fast food or restaurant happens to be in your way during your list of errands.
So, there it is. Those are my strategies for avoiding weight gain over the holidays. I encourage you to enjoy the food of the holidays but do so with pre-planning and discipline. There is no reason to “healthify” (if that’s a word) the holiday food. All you need to do is use common sense.
Also, check out our ZERO pound challenge, where we help you avoid ALL holiday weight gain through our GUARANTEED results coaching program.
Good luck. Have fun with your family and friends. If you are traveling over Thanksgiving, be safe!
Radley West 