YES! Holiday party season is in full throttle, and NOW is the time to employ some of our very favorite weight loss tricks to help you avoid any unwanted holiday weight gain! These weight loss tricks are good any time of the year, during the holidays….they are GOLD. So let’s jump right in!
Use the best weight loss trick during the holiday season to ensure you have fun at those holiday parties but don’t regret the on the scale.
Weight Loss Tricks | Don’t “Save” Your Calories for Later
That’s right. The whole notion of “saving” your calories for later is a very dangerous thing. Remember when you learned that BREAKFAST is the most important meal of the day?
And that when you skip breakfast or eat simple carbs for breakfast, your body immediately goes into fat storage mode? Guess what? It does that during the holidays too. Even on days when you are “saving” calories for that office party.
What’s a girl to do?
Behave like you normally would: Get up, have a protein-based breakfast, hydrate lots, and eat like it’s a normal day…because it is a normal day! When you eat like you normally would and then go to the party, you will consume normal-sized portions because you haven’t spent the day starving yourself!
When you “save calories,” you inevitably set yourself up to eat more than you would normally have eaten; your famished body is storing all that artichoke dip and eggnog as fat because who knows when you will decide to feed it again.
So don’t do that. Eat the right-sized portions, and you will be golden.
Weight Loss Tricks | Wear Pants!
You laugh, but I’m serious! So many of us march around in yoga pants as much as possible because they are stretchy, comfy, don’t restrict us, and cover a multitude of sins.
Then when it’s time to get ready for a party, maybe we hop into a dress or skirt –also stretchy and comfy and not bothering us around the waist. Who doesn’t love a good maxi skirt just to cover everything up? Exactly.
Pants, not so much. They have a waistband which might even require a belt. Perhaps it’s a pair of skinny jeans? If you eat too much, you feel it! If you’ve gained a pound or two, they have no problem letting you know!
Pants are a girl’s best friend during the holidays.
They help you be mindful of what you are eating, and how much you are eating. And help you stay true to your goals…and your pant size.
Weight Loss Tricks | Use the Buddy System
Why walk this path alone? Grab a pal and be accountable to each other in a positive and supportive way. No room for shame or guilt during the holidays! Partner with someone who has similar wellness goals.
Declare your intentions for the event to each other, check in a couple of times to reaffirm each other, and celebrate your successes at the end of the event. At NewStart we understand the power of community and the buddy system!
That’s why we make our NewStart Insiders group available to all! It’s a great place to get motivation, inspiration, ideas, and support. Free to join. Priceless in your time of need!
Weight Loss Tricks | Slow Down, It’s Not a Race!
The buffet looks sumptuous. The desserts are divine! Hard not to dive right in and gobble it all up, right? Especially if it’s a large group and you don’t know if there will be anything left after everyone goes through the line (actually, if you followed Weight Loss Trick #1, this will be a non-issue!).
Nevertheless, here’s something that will totally save the day for you: first, survey the buffet and decide what you WILL have and what you won’t have. Then roll thru and serve yourself the items you decided you would sample.
Then, eat slowly! As in, put your fork down between bites. Chew your food, swallow. Chat a little. Repeat. No one is chasing you. No one will steal your plate. Food is meant to be enjoyed!
There’s no enjoyment in gulping your meal down. Take your time and taste the holiday in that prime rib!
Weight Loss Tricks | Leave the Leftovers Behind.
Inevitably your host or hostess has prepared enough food to feed the guests at least twice! So she is more than happy to load you up with leftovers (more than likely, she doesn’t want all that stuff hanging around her house…she’s got goals, you know!)
Your goal is to get back to normal, STAT.
So no leftovers for you. Politely decline and grab your coat and your accountability partner, and head on out the door.
Bonus Weight Loss Trick: Hostess Gift
If you offer to bring a platter of cookies or treats of some kind, yay for you! Make sure you bring them to the party on a disposable tray or a platter that you can leave with the hostess as a small gift for her hospitality.
You leave without leftovers, and the hostess gets to add a cute platter to her collection. We call that a win-win! Need more ideas to tame holiday stress? Download our NewMind Holiday Handbook and journal your way to your best holiday season yet!
Free, fun, and worth it! Get the book here.
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