This is a collaborative post.
Over the festive period, we all tend to over-indulge in our favourite foods without a care for calorie or fat content, fuelling holiday weight gain (please, tell me it’s not just me!) We all deserve a treat now and then of course, but if you’re keen to avoid Christmas weight gain this year, try improving your diet and exercise regime for the first few weeks of December, so you’ll feel less guilty about pigging out throughout Christmas Day week and on to New Year’s Eve.
Choosing the right diet is not easy, however. Not only do you have to navigate your way through all the different diets out there and choose the best one for you to follow, but once you’ve chosen the right one, you’re then faced with the seemingly impossible task of avoiding your favourite unhealthy foods and sugary drinks.
To make dieting a little easier, try following these small steps to encourage weight loss. You’ll be surprised at just how much of an impact little changes can make throughout the festive period.
Try a meal delivery service
Finding time to cook at home is hard for most people, especially when working a full-time job means many hours of your day will be spent at work. Rather than letting your hectic schedule get in the way of healthy lifestyle changes, you need to find a way to make your new diet work. One of the best ways to accomplish this goal is by using a meal delivery service like Sun Basket.
These services provide consumers with healthy meals at affordable prices. Using a meal delivery service allows you to avoid succumbing to the temptation of going to your local drive-thru on your way home from work. If you want to save money on getting healthy meals delivered to your home, be sure to check out this Sun Basket promo code.
Increase your daily protein intake
One of the main problems people have when trying to stick to a diet is fighting through hunger and cravings. There’s a real misconception that a successful dieting experience is only possible if you deny yourself meals when you’re feeling hungry. In reality, however, denying your body food when you feel hungry will lead to cheating. For this reason, always aim to eat foods that are both filling and nutritious.
Increasing your daily intake of healthy proteins is a great way to feel fuller for longer. Healthy proteins such as chicken and fish provide your body with essential macronutrients. For every 200 calories of protein you consume, up to 70 calories are burned during the digestion process. Since breakfast is widely regarded as the most important meal of the day, you need to ensure your first meal of the day is packed with protein and healthy fats. These nutrients will help you to feel full, even hours after your lunch break.
Avoid cheat meals
Some people think they’re entitled to cheat meals when they start a new diet. While cheat meals are an important part of sticking to a diet, however, they need to come at the right time. If you diet for a few days and then immediately enjoy a cheat meal, you’ll likely undo any progress you’ve made thus far. This is why you need to avoid having cheat meals – or days – for the first few weeks of your new plan.
By postponing that long-awaited cheat meal, you’ll give your body more time to adjust to the changes in your diet. Waiting is also a great way to allow your appetite to shrink before cheating. You may be surprised at what you believe is a cheat meal after a month or two of dieting; showing restraint when it comes to the type of foods you consume can help you lose weight and feel better.
What are your top tops for preventing weight loss during the festive season? Comment below to share your thoughts with other readers.
Find this post useful? You may also want to check out my advice on how to lose weight before going on holiday.
This is a collaborative post.