How to limit the damage over the Christmas break

How are your Christmas preparations going?

It can be a stressful time of year and one that pulls us out of routine. Plus we are all prone to eating & drinking more than we normally would!

So how do we limit the damage over the Christmas break? How do we enjoy ourselves without the guilt?

The average weight gain is about 5 pounds with up to 6,000 calories consumed on Christmas Day alone.

But the fact that you can’t stick to your normal exercise routine doesn’t mean you have to abandon it completely.

1. Work out twice a week

Research shows that just two weekly workouts are enough to maintain most of the fitness you already have, which is going to make returning to your normal routine in January a lot less painful than it otherwise would be.

2. Get active on Christmas day

On Christmas Day itself, or in fact any day when circumstances may make it impossible to go to the gym, you should still try to go out for a run, long walk or bike ride wherever possible.

3. Prevent the guilt

Exercise & you’ll burn off a few extra calories. Depending on what you do and for how long, this may only amount to a couple of hundred calories. Compare this to the several thousand you might eat and it’s not much, but it’s still better than doing nothing.

4. You won’t eat as much

A bit of physical activity on Christmas Day will help you resist the temptation to continually snack. Even if you simply head out for a brisk walk after Christmas lunch, you’ll find it easier to apply a bit of self-control.

5. Protect your hard work

Just a week of overeating and no exercise can lead to a decline in blood sugar control. It can also have a negative effect on the genes responsible for maintaining a healthy metabolism.

It shows you can enjoy yourself over Christmas without letting it all come crashing down.

Merry Christmas everyone!

“Exercise can completely cancel out many of the changes induced by overfeeding and reduced activity”