Working as a Nutrition Coach, one of the biggest struggles some of my clients face is holiday weight gain. They worry that their year’s worth of work will go out the window in just a month’s span, thanks to holiday parties happening left and right. Now, the thing about holiday weight gain is that it’s just easy to gain weight in the summer as it is in the winter. However, there’s some pressure around the holidays to just “indulge” or “let go” because the promise of New Year’s resolutions is around the corner.
You and I both know that resolutions rarely last longer than three months, and even that’s a long shot. Holiday weight gain is not something to be feared, but to actively prepare to avoid. It’s actually quite simple with the right tools! So today I’ll be sharing my list of go-to hacks for avoiding holiday weight gain, and still being the life of the party!
1. BYODish
In my experience, the reason I end up eating things I wouldn’t normally eat at parties is because there aren’t any “Shelby approved” options. For example, if I show up to a party hungry, and there’s only deep fried chicken and pizza, I’m going to dig in! But if I can gift a plate of food for everyone to enjoy (including myself!) it’s a win-win! I’m not saying you can’t eat the pizza, but you can stay on top of your weight loss goals best if you opt for a salad and one slice of pizza, rather than loading up on pizza alone.
2. Have an Accountability Partner
This tip works best if you attend a party or event with a significant other or a friend. If you tell them ahead of time that you don’t want to eat certain foods, or no more than one treat, then you’re more likely to stay true to your word. They don’t even have to have the responsibility of stopping you or watching your every bite, but simply voicing your goal out loud will help you keep yourself accountable, too.
3. Drink More Water
Before you skip this hack, hear me out. I’m not saying drink more water to avoid eating certain things. If you want a cookie, eat the cookie! What drinking more water can help with is reducing the likelihood of you eating five cookies. Plus, the more we hydrate our body, the better it can work to detox itself. Water is one of my best beauty secrets. Drinking more water = healthy detoxing. Eating more sugar = build up. Pick your path!
4. Reduce Alcohol Intake
One of my most shocking clients stories is about a woman who lost 20 pounds and a beer belly from giving up alcohol for just two months. Two months! Imagine if for just one month, you gave up alcohol. Now, if you don’t drink much it won’t make a huge impact, but if you’re a daily drinker, or even a heavy weekend drinker, this can be a massive help to avoiding holiday weight gain. Even if you don’t quit, and just stick to a maximum of two drinks per week, you’ll see a huge difference.
5. Wear Something Fitted
This is for anyone who struggles with self-discipline. You know who you are! If there is nothing that can stand in the way between you and 10 pieces of candy, let it be a picture you don’t want posted on the internet. That’s right. Pull out the tightest dress or outfit you have, and let that be your motivation to get through the night! If you’re anything like me, you know that one or two bites of the wrong thing can send you from feeling great to looking bloated real quick. So wearing something that is your own accountability buddy can be a huge help.
6. Chew Your Food
If you eat too quickly, you can overeat without realizing. However, if you chew your food thoroughly, you’re less likely to overeat. You’re probably thinking you always chew your food. But to fully prepare your food for digestion, it’s best to chew your food between 30 and 40 times. Try it out and see how you do! I was shocked the first time I started counting my chewing. It was a miracle I’d never choked on my food up until that point! Chewing your food thoroughly gives your body more time to process the food it’s intaking. The better it can monitor its intake, the more accurately it will signal when you’re full.
7. Eat Before You Go
I saved the best for last! Eating before you go out can greatly reduce the risk of overeating or eating unhealthy options you wouldn’t otherwise choose. Specifically, eating protein. Protein helps reduce cravings by keeping you full for longer and also helps to reduce glucose spikes. I totally understand not wanting to eat a bare chicken breast or steak before going out, though. Which is why Super Youth collagen is a great option! It packs in 7 grams of protein per scoop, and comes in a variety of delicious flavors. This is a great way to reduce holiday weight gain, and an amazing way to stop on top of your goals this year! I love that it’s so easy to take on the go, too. Try it out next time you want to reduce snacking and indulging when going out and see how you feel! I guarantee you’ll be adding every flavor to your wishlist after just one try!