Holiday weight gain is an often talked about and well-studied subject. If you ask people they will tell you that they believe that they gain about 5 pounds over the entire holiday season. Studies reveal that the average holiday weight gain is more like one pound, not five.
Holiday parties, holiday meals, and even getting gifts can get in the way of your weight loss. We all could use a little help to avoid holiday weight gain during this time of year as it is filled with temptations and amazing smells.
One Pound Doesn’t Sound so Bad, Right?
The thing is: that one pound doesn’t always come off AFTER the holidays. So, the next year guess what? More holiday weight gain. Same for the next year and the year after that.
The next thing you know, you’re 10 pounds overweight, and you can’t even really say why that happened. It must be in your genes. No. It was that holiday weight gain, year after year after year.
And toss in a couple of really strong birthday celebrations, and the whole thing has gone wrong!
Say “NO!” to Holiday Weight Gain, Forever!
This doesn’t have to be you, during the holidays, or any other time of year, for that matter. Here are 3 simple steps to avoid holiday weight gain once and for all. And you will be SHOCKED at how following these steps will utterly change your LIFE, not just your waistline.
What would do for you to have more energy, better sleep, and trim waistline while under that mistletoe? Exactly.
Step 1: Breakfast
You’ve heard me beat this drum before. But, SERIOUSLY, breakfast is the MOST important meal of the day! Always eat breakfast. Why? Well, consider this: our bodies are made up of 100 trillion cells.
And these 100 trillion cells need 114 different nutrients daily to function and make our bodies work as they were designed to work. Breathing. Blinking. Bench pressing. Driving the carpool. Wrapping gifts. Everything.
When our bodies wake up in the morning, these 100 trillion cells say, “Feed me! It’s been 6-9 hours since we’ve last eaten!” And guess what happens if you don’t feed them within an hour of waking up?
That’s right, when you finally do throw some nutrition down, they store everything as FAT. Now, where is the Happy Holiday in that? Exactly. Nowhere! The higher the quality of breakfast, the happier your cells will be, and the better they will perform for you!
So consider a breakfast LOW in sugar, HIGH in nutrition. Like a supercharged smoothie, or how about some killer protein pancakes? Clients who have become regular breakfast eaters report improved quality of sleep, increased energy, stable moods, and …. weight loss!
Step 2: Protein
Protein is essential for a healthy body, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding holiday weight gain. Here’s the thing: eating the right amount of protein will serve you well forever, not just during the holiday season.
Determining the right amount of protein for you is just some simple math: take your weight, and divide by 2. That number equals the minimum number of grams of protein you should eat on a daily basis.
Your goal, is to hit that number, every day!
Focus on lean proteins and on eating protein with every meal and with your snacks. NewStart members who hit their protein numbers report increased energy and a metabolism boost that helps them trim the fat and stay lean.
Step 3: Hydrate
The average human body is 60% water. So, to say that water is important is an understatement! We release water by breathing, sweating, urinating, and all that water needs to be replaced. Daily. What’s the right amount of water for you?
Again, simple math and the equation look an awful lot like the protein equation. Take your weight, and divide by 2. That number equals the number of ounces of water you need to drink every day.
So, if you weigh 150 pounds, you must drink 75 ounces of water daily. So, what if you aren’t hitting your water goal by a lot? NO WORRIES! Increase your water consumption by 8 oz daily until you hit your goal.
Put a water bottle next to the bed or on the bathroom counter. When you wake up in the morning, use the potty, brush your teeth, rinse, and then drink down 8oz of water before you head to the kitchen to make your breakfast smoothie!
Set a timer for every hour, and drink 6-8 ounces when your timer goes off! Simple. Lack of proper hydration contributes to fine lines and wrinkles on your skin. It makes your organs work harder doing what they need to do for your body.
Contributes to weight gain. The signal for thirst is the same as the signal for hunger. Your brain doesn’t handle that signal differently. SO if you feel hungry, do yourself a favor and drink a glass of water first. You might be thirsty!
BONUS Step 4: Download
That’s right! Download our NewMind Holiday Handbook! This book is designed with you in mind. There is NO need to settle for holiday weight gain or holiday stress and overwhelm. Our handbook is your guide to having the best holiday season yet.
There are 12 focus words — 12 different days to journal, meditate, and maybe even a daily challenge or two thrown in for good measure. All designed to give you a few minutes to slow down, practice some self-care, and get grounded on having the best holiday season yet!
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