…Quick Acting Powerful Diet Habits to Work on For the Festive Season…

When it comes to losing weight and improving our diet, the one thing we all want is fast results; especially in the run up to the holiday season when it’s nothing but treats and parties on offer.

We’ve all been there. We pledge to visit the gym on a daily basis and to count every calorie in order to counteract the festive bloat. But as soon holidays get under way we find ourselves reaching for that candy and heading out to happy hour for a holiday cocktail or six ditching the diet in an instant.

But there’s a better a way, you no longer have to suffer the all or nothing approach. You simply need to adopt these quick acting powerful diet habits to make sure you stay slim and trim all season long all whilst enjoying the holidays.

Eat Breakfast

If your breakfast consists of just grabbing a coffee on the go then you’re going to want to change that. Research has shown dieters are more successful in their weight loss goals when they consume breakfast. It will not only kick start your metabolism but it will also keep cravings at bay (meaning less snacking).

Start your morning with a mix of protein and whole grains such as a slice of toast with organic peanut butter or overnight oats topped with grated apple. Ideally you need a breakfast that you can just grab and go to avoid those time based excuses.

Downsize your plate

One of the best tricks to ensure that you eat less is eating from a smaller plate. As humans we see food as a very visual thing (instagram anyone?) so when we use smaller dinnerware our eyes get tricked in to thinking that we are eating more with the overall result being that we are more satisfied with less food.

Keep your workouts short (but intense)

The holidays are busy so no one has time to spend hours in the gym. But the good news is that short, intense workouts are better for burning fat and giving your body a 100% workout.

High intensity interval training aka HIIT is not only great for burning fat but it’s also way more efficient. You can make more progress in your fitness regime in just 15 minutes of HIIT than you could running for an entire hour. So it’s a no brainer really. Also, the HIIT is totally portable so if you feel like reaching for the snack bowl just get up and start doing a set of jumping jacks and crunches instead.

Bring your own food

When it comes to Christmas parties and family gatherings, food is usually the center point. So avoid temptation by taking your own food so that there’s always something there you can indulge in.

Keep track of what you’re eating

A piece of candy here, a handful of nuts there – it all adds up. So get in to the habit of keeping a food diary to help you stay committed to your goals over the festive period. The diary will help you keep track of what you’re eating and also help you become more mindful of what you’re consuming every day. It can also help you plan your meals and help you maintain a balanced diet.

Learn to say no.

Don’t let someone else dictate to you what you should and shouldn’t be eating. If you’re trying to stick to a healthy eating plan then learn to say no when you’re offered food that will knock you off plan. Whilst the holidays are a great time to eat, drink and be merry, the consequences of doing so can go on for months afterwards. Think about it, do you really want to still be working off your Christmas indulgence in March? Celebrate your way but remember to keep boundaries and stay true to your goals.

Drink more water.

Hydration is the key to a healthy body and over the holidays our intake of alcohol and caffeine can often dramatically increase. So make sure that you stay hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. This will help stop you from feeling sluggish and tired as well as help flush the toxins from your body.

Keep healthy snacks at the office

If you want to avoid over indulging on sugary snacks brought in by your colleagues but don’t want to miss out on the fun then just keep your own stash of snacks at the office. But if you do decide to splurge then do something good for your body first, have a piece of fruit or climb a few flights of stairs before digging in.

Try intermittent fasting

If you know that your holiday season is going to be full of get togethers and social occasions then think about starting intermittent fasting. You can either chose to follow the 5:2 method where you keep your daily calorie intake to under 500 calories twice a week or try the 16 hour method where you eat just two meals a day and then fast for 16 hours before your next meal. Of course the festive season is a time to celebrate and enjoy yourself but it’s also important that you remember the greatest gift you have is your health. Don’t use the holidays to slack on your goals and go in to the New Year happier and healthier than ever before.

 


Author : Kelly Crawford is passionate about health, well being, running and minimalist. As a competitive runner, she has insight into the struggles of 
balancing work-outs with good nutrition and injury prevention. She is a contributing writer for HardBoiledBody.com – a site dedicated to health, 
nutrition and fitness advice.
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