We all know the winter months come with joy, memories, and lots and lots of eating.
I love the winter months because of so many things but let me tell you, that weight gain is NOT in our favor.
It's like the holiday season brings us back to college for the good ole "freshman 15"...
But hey, don't worry about gaining 15 pounds during the holidays. The average weight gain during the holidays is only about 1-2 pounds in the long run.
Some might think that's not very much, but others will want to get rid of that ASAP once the holidays are over. So, does holiday weight gain come off quickly? Well, it'll take about 5-6 months to lose all the holiday weight.
Now you're probably thinking, "How will I avoid holiday weight gain and maintain my diet during the holidays?"
Well, I'm here to tell you that there's no need for dieting or skipping the dessert.
I mean come on, the dessert is the best part!!
The holidays are for enjoying your life and your loved ones.
Let's not make this year more complicated than it already has been!
Here are simple tips that you can do to avoid gaining weight during the winter holiday season:
- Try to stay away from second and third servings
- Drink lots of water before, during, and after meals
- Limit yourself on the number of alcoholic beverages you drink
- Make sure to keep your meals balanced with carbs, proteins, and grains
- Stay active
Click here if you are wondering how to avoid weight gain during the summer holidays.
Try to stay away from second and third servings
Have you ever thought of why you seem to always grab a second or third serving from your holiday buffet table?
Well, think of it this way:
Do you ever eat second servings for breakfast? How about lunch?
Nope, just dinner time...but why?
It's because usually, during holidays, there is a buffet table of all the different foods and you're usually sitting at the same table.
This is a temptation for us because it's almost like it's staring at us.
A good way to not grab seconds is to remove the serving dishes off the holiday buffet table once everyone has got their food.
This will make it harder to grab a second serving because no one wants to get up.
Drink lots of water before, during, and after meals
If you don't know this already, water is very good for you.
Not only does it help hydrate you, but it also helps to flush out bacteria and toxins from your body.
It's "critical for digestion", and helps to aid in weight loss.
Drinking water before, during, and after meals can help with the amount of food you consume because water fills you up, so you will get full sooner.
If you don't have a water pitcher for your table, I'd consider a glass pitcher - It's perfect for not only the holidays but also fits the vibe for everyday meals for the family!
Check out these two modern-looking pitchers:
Limit yourself on the number of alcoholic beverages you drink
Remember there's no need to blackout during the holidays.
So, you can still drink during, but just limit yourself a little on the number of glasses you have.
Just take into account that one alcoholic beverage can range from 95 to 1,000 calories depending on if the drink is mixed!
You'll want to remember these times so drink wine and have a good time.
Make sure to keep your meals balanced with carbs, proteins, and grains
There are so many dishes during the holiday season that are cheesy and full of carbs.
Now, I'm not singling out mac & cheese...but that's definitely one of them!
When you go up to create your plate, just be mindful of the number of carbs, proteins, and grains you add.
According to Healthline, Protein is also beneficial for weight control because it increases your metabolism and levels of appetite-reducing hormones.
Just remember, a balanced meal makes you fuller!
Did you know there are some super cute meal portion plates you can use for the holidays?
Check out these really cool portion control plates:
- Health Beet Portion Control Plates (Set of 4)
- Square Portion Control Plates
- Round Portion Control Plates
Stay active
Participating in any type of physical activity can help maintain your weight during the holiday season.
If you are not doing any type of exercise, it can lead to weight gain especially if you are overeating during the holidays!
There's no need to do a crazy hour workout, just something to get your heart rate up.
Just 30 minutes is all you need.
A simple stroll to the park, a fun game of flag football with the family, or a walk around your neighborhood is good!
Who says you only gain weight during the winter holidays? We've got summer holidays too, people!! It's time to be cautious of your weight during both holiday seasons and to do that, I've got another great list of tips to take into account when enjoying the summer holiday season.
How To Maintain Your Weight & Avoid Weight Gain During The Summer
If you are a student, you know that once schools out, it's time to get back to the pool, go on trips with friends, and enjoy your much-need summer vacay. But you might also forget that this might include an increase in food intake and for some, an increase in alcoholic beverages! Whether you are enjoying the 4th of July with friends and family, taking a trip to the lake, or day drinking on rooftop bars with your friends, summer weight gain can be an unfortunate issue for some as well.
These tips for maintaining your weight during the summer are similar to my tips for the winter holidays, but I've added a few tricks you can use only for summertime!
Here are tips to avoiding weight gain during the summer:
- Stick to a schedule or routine
- Set goals for yourself
- Keep your calendar busy
- Move your outdoor workouts to indoors
Stick to a schedule or routine
Just because summer is here, doesn't mean you can slack off. Yes, it's time to relax for those that are out of school but if you don't have a job or something to keep you busy then it's easier to sleep in more, binge-watch Netflix shows, and snack more often.
You can stick to a schedule by setting reminders to do things each day or each week. Whether that be waking up at a certain time each day, taking your dog out for walks or to the dog park, making and eating dinner at the same time each night, building a new skincare routine, etc.
Set goals for yourself
When we are in "summer mode" it's easy to become a couch potato. especially if you don't have a job for the summer. This almost always includes regular stops to the fridge and snack pantry. Prevent this from happening by creating goals for yourself each day and each week.
Whether that be staying active for 30 minutes a day, or making sure to get outside for at least 15 minutes each day, or creating a "goals list" for the summer, whether that be career or life goals. Add a goal for organizing your room by a certain date, set a cleaning schedule, do your laundry each week, read a chapter of a new book each night, learn a new skill, etc.
There are so many things you can add to your goals list!
Keep your calendar busy
Summer can give you more free time which means more time to lay around and each that whole bag of Doritos...but it also means there are more fun opportunities and events to keep you busy!
Check out local events on Google or Facebook Events and see what fun events and activities are nearby that you can add to your calendar. There are tons of free events as well, so no need to break the bank if you want to keep busy! Another fun event is the Color Run or 5k fundraisers. The tickets are usually cheap to join the run and it's a great outing for you and your friends to catch up!
Move your outdoor workouts to indoors
Once summer hits, it can get hot and I'm talking super hot outside. This can lead people to stop enjoying their outdoor workouts and put their exercise habits on hold. Don't let the heat stop you from staying active! Move your workouts to indoors, enjoy an at-home workout, or go to the nearest gym.
If motivation is what's stopping you from working out indoors, then join a spin class or a fun group exercise class. If that isn't your scene, then try swimming laps at a pool or other water sports outdoors! Move your exercise routine to early in the morning or later at night when the temperature cools down.
There is absolutely no excuse to stop being active, especially in the summer!
Use these tips when you are worried about holiday weight gain this year, whether that be for the winter or summer - these tips will be sure to help!
Just remember to enjoy the moments - whether that be in-person or virtually with family and friends.
I hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday season!
Cheers, Lovelies!
Courtney Lynn says
This is a great article, Jenna! But what about summer holiday weight gain? I feel like I eat a lot during the 4th of July, summer picnics, and lake trips with friends. I’m trying to keep my weight down during the summer…Do you have any tips for avoiding holiday weight gain (or general weight gain) during the summer months?
xx
–Court
Jenna Haith says
Hey Courtney,
Thanks for the read! I just added some information to this article on how to maintain your weight/avoid summer weight gain and tips to staying busy in the summer months. Check it out and let me know if you’ve got any other questions!
Cheers,
Jenna