The holidays are an exciting time of year. But between the parties, stress and baked goods, it’s also a time when people tend to gain weight.
In fact, between mid-November and mid-January, adults gain an average of one pound. This may not seem like a lot, but most people don’t lose the weight they gain over the holidays. For this reason, holiday weight gain is one of the biggest contributors to total yearly weight gain for many people.
The good news is that weight gain during the holidays is not inevitable.
Here are 20 tips to help you avoid weight gain during the holiday season.
1. Be Active With Family and Friends
Sedentary activities, such as sitting on the couch watching sports, are common holiday traditions for many families.
Inactivity may contribute to weight gain, especially when lounging around is accompanied by eating excessive amounts of food. Doing some type of physical activity while on holiday with your family may prove to be beneficial for weight control.
An activity as simple as a family walk can provide benefits, as it will get your mind off food and allow you to bond with your loved ones. You can also be active during the holidays by signing up for a workplace or community fitness competition or event. Running races are popular options.
2. Be Smart When Snacking
During the holiday season, unhealthy snacks like cookies and other goodies tend to be available for you to take as you please.
When treats are easy to access, unnecessary snacking or grazing is more likely to occur.
At home, this problem can be solved by keeping treats out of sight. However, that strategy is more difficult to avoid in situations that you cannot control, such as your workplace or a family dinner party.
You can overcome these situations by being mindful of your snacking habits. If you find yourself snacking just because there’s food available — and not because you’re hungry — then it’s best to avoid snacking altogether. However, if you are hungry and need a snack, opt for real foods. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are filling snacks that don’t contain added sugars or unhealthy fats, both of which can lead to weight gain.
3. Watch Your Portion Sizes
When the holidays arrive, it can be easy to overdo it on your portion sizes. Those who eat larger-than-recommended portions tend to gain weight more easily than those who don’t. The best way to overcome this is to weigh and measure your food, or eat off smaller plates, which is discussed more below.
To determine an appropriate portion size, read food labels and the recommended serving sizes listed on recipes.
If you’re in a situation that leaves you unable to measure portions, use your best judgment to fill your plate with a reasonable amount of food.
4. Practice Mindful Eating
People are often rushed and on the go throughout the holiday season, which frequently leads to multitasking during meals. Studies show that those who eat while they are distracted are more likely to overeat. This is because they are unable to pay attention to their body’s fullness signals.
To prevent this from happening, eat mindfully without distractions, including work and electronics. Another way to eat mindfully is to eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly, which will allow you to better recognize your body’s signals of fullness and consume fewer calories.
It can also be helpful to take a few deep breaths before you start eating. This can induce relaxation and help you keep your full attention on your plate, rather than your to-do list. Several studies show that those who engage in mindful eating practices are less likely to gain weight.
5. Get Plenty of Sleep
Sleep deprivation is quite common during the holidays, and it may cause weight gain. This is because those who do not sleep enough tend to be hungrier, consume more calories and get less physical activity.
The reason behind this is that sleep restriction may increase your hunger hormone levels, ultimately leading to higher calorie intake. Additionally, inadequate sleep has been linked to lower metabolism. This is believed to be due to alterations in your circadian rhythm, which is known as the biological clock that regulates many bodily functions.
6. Control Your Stress Levels
Keeping up with the demands of the holidays can be stressful. Those who are stressed commonly have high levels of cortisol, a hormone that’s released in response to stress. Chronically high cortisol levels may cause weight gain, as they have been linked to greater food intake.
Additionally, a stressful lifestyle may cause more cravings for junk food. For these reasons, it’s important to keep stress levels under control throughout the entire year, but especially during the holidays when you might be plagued with more tasks and surrounded by unhealthy foods.
There are plenty of things you can do during the holidays to reduce stress. Some options include exercise, meditation, yoga and deep breathing.
7. Keep Meals Balanced With Protein
Holiday meals are typically rich in carbs but lack protein. However, it’s important to include some protein with every meal, as it promotes fullness and may be useful for weight maintenance.
In fact, eating protein with meals may automatically reduce calorie intake by reducing hunger and appetite. Protein is also beneficial for weight control because it increases your metabolism and levels of appetite-reducing hormones.
For these weight-management benefits, you should include at least 25–30 grams of protein in each meal. Good sources of protein include meat, poultry, fish and some plant foods like beans and quinoa. Ensure your holiday meals include a serving or two of these foods to reduce the likelihood of overindulgence.
8. Focus on Fiber
Fiber is another important nutrient that induces fullness. Some studies show that increased dietary fiber can reduce total calorie intake, which may be a method to prevent weight gain over the holidays.
Unfortunately, many common holiday foods lack adequate amounts of fiber. Do your best to incorporate fiber-rich foods, such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, into your meals.
9. Cut Back on Taste Testing
Many people spend a lot of time cooking and baking during the holiday season. Surprisingly, this can lead to weight gain. That’s because along with the cooking and baking comes taste testing, and even small bites of baked goods and holiday dishes can add up in calories.
Tasting your dishes can be important, especially if you are cooking for others, but a small bite of less than a teaspoon is probably more than enough. You should also make sure that you aren’t hungry while cooking, as it’s much easier to go overboard on taste testing when your stomach is growling.
10. Bring a Healthy Dish to Share
Holiday parties can be a common setback in the battle against holiday weight gain. In these instances, you often have no control over the food that’s served.
The good news is that you can have control. Simply bring your own healthy dish for yourself and to share with others. This way, you can be sure you’ll have something to eat that aligns with your weight goals.
11. Choose Desserts Wisely and Savor Them
Dessert is everywhere during the holiday season. This often leads to excessive sugar consumption, a common cause of weight gain. Instead of eating every treat in sight, it can be helpful to focus on your favorites. Eat the ones you really want and ditch the rest.
Another trick is to savor the desserts you do indulge in, which may leave you feeling more satisfied and less likely to overdo dessert. To savor desserts, eat them slowly and mindfully so you can really taste and enjoy them.
12. Limit Liquid Calories
The holidays are a time of year when alcohol, soda and other sweetened beverages seem to be unlimited. These beverages can contribute a significant amount of sugar and empty calories to your diet, which can cause weight gain.
Additionally, alcohol consumption is often linked to increased appetite and is a risk factor for weight gain. If you’re trying to control your weight, it is best to limit liquid calories during the holidays — and all year long, for that matter.
13. Use a Smaller Plate
Dinner parties and potlucks are common occasions during the holiday season. While people often think of these as diet disasters, they don’t have to be if you eat from a smaller plate.
This is based on the fact that people tend to consume larger portions off of large plates, which may lead to overeating. By using the simple trick of choosing a smaller plate, you can control portions and therefore reduce the likelihood of holiday weight gain.
14. Reduce Calories in Recipes
Excessive calorie intake is a primary cause of weight gain during the holidays. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of things you can do to lower the calorie contents of recipes. Here are some ideas on how to reduce calories in baking, cooking and beverages:
Baking
Replace butter with applesauce, mashed banana or pumpkin puree.
Instead of sugar, use a lower-calorie substitute such as stevia, erythritol or xylitol.
Add dried fruit instead of chocolate chips or candies.
Flavor recipes with extracts like vanilla, almond and peppermint instead of butter and sugar.
Cooking
Flavor dishes with herbs and spices instead of butter
Use cooking methods such as baking, steaming or grilling instead of frying
Substitute low-fat or skim milk for heavy cream
Replace cream cheese, sour cream and mayo with Greek yogurt
Beverages
Use club soda or sparkling water in place of sweetened beverages.
Flavor drinks with freshly squeezed lemon or lime rather than sugar. Cinnamon can also add flavor to holiday-themed beverages.
In dairy-based drinks, use low-fat or skim milk in place of heavy cream.
15. Weigh Yourself Regularly
Stepping on the scale regularly during the holidays may help prevent weight gain. In some studies, individuals who weigh themselves regularly are able to maintain or lose weight better than those who do not weigh themselves.
Do what works best for you when it comes to weighing yourself. Some find it beneficial to check their weight daily, while others are successful weighing themselves once or twice a week.
16. Use the Buddy System
Many people report success with their weight goals when they have a partner to pursue them with. Finding a health buddy who has similar weight goals may be useful over the holidays, as this person can keep you motivated and accountable.
Reach out to friends, family and co-workers to find someone willing to partner with you in your effort to prevent weight gain.
17. Avoid Processed Foods
The hectic holiday season has led to the increased availability of processed holiday convenience foods, such as boxed mashed potatoes and stuffing. While these may be quick and easy, they often contain excess sugar and unhealthy fats that are not good for weight control.
To prevent weight gain, opt for whole foods this holiday season. Focus on making meals and baked goods from scratch instead of a box. That way, you can control what goes in your food and stay on top of your weight.
18. Plan Ahead
All of the suggestions in this article come down to planning ahead if you are watching your weight over the holidays.
If you have events that involve food on the calendar, take matters into your own hands. Find out what types of foods will be served and if you need to, bring your own dish. Decide what and how much you will eat ahead of time.
It can also be helpful to gather a list of healthy holiday recipes, so you always have a go-to when you need to bring something to a party.
19. Skip Seconds
Holiday meals are often served in a buffet style, with several options to choose from in unlimited amounts. This leads people to serve themselves seconds — and maybe even thirds. The calories from double helpings can add up and contribute to weight gain.
To overcome this, assess your hunger when you finish your first plate. If you’re still hungry, have a little more food. If you’re not, then you’ve probably had enough and can move on to enjoy other aspects of the gathering.
20. Draw the Line
During the holiday season, many people have an “I’ll start tomorrow” mentality, which can end up being a vicious cycle of unhealthy habits. If you are serious about controlling your weight over the holidays, it may be helpful to draw the line, set limits for yourself and stick to your goals regarding food intake.
Decide which foods are worth it to you and which ones are not. Know that it’s okay to say no to certain foods and habits that don’t align with your goals. It’s also important to be aware that you might have a slip-up or two.
People often abandon their goals after this happens. However, there is no need for this. Simply move on and make a healthier choice the next time you eat.
