3 ways to Avoid Weight Gain over the Holidays

As 2012 comes to a close, our minds - for some begins the inward reflection on how we've done through out the year with fulfilling our goals - specifically, our weight loss goals. We vowed to exercise more, eat less junk food, drink more water, consume less alcohol, and take steps to quit smoking.

Whatever it is you aspired to do, and did on even a small scale, if you "followed through" on your fitness/health goals, you should celebrate, because you are in a healthier place for doing it.

I decided on this topic "avoid weight gain", purely because most material that will be issued from December to maybe March, will be about "how to lose weight". Won't it be better to have effective but simple steps in place to avoid packing on the poundage altogether? Most definitely yes!

Here are 3 proven tips that will avoid weight gain over the holidays

1. Drink more water and drink at least 8 oz prior to eating a meal - drinking water is not only beneficial to your overall bodily function, our brains, lungs, muscle and blood is made up of at least 75% of water, and we need to keep our cells from getting thirsty. Water flushes out toxins from our body - aka the additional alcoholic drinks we'll be knocking back during this festive time. If that isn't enough reason, how about our metabolism? which helps in fat loss and energy level.
2. Exercise throughout the holiday season - a big mistake we make is to take time off from exercising during this time, because our calendar is packed full of parties to attend. All the more reason to make it a priority to "fit" exercise into your schedule. 20 minutes of intense exercise, 4 times a week (and no, you don't need to go out in the cold or rain if you don't want to). Set you timer for 20-25 min, warm up, then incorporate push ups, ab workout, plyometrics movement and if you have free weights - select 2 body part to work and get moving.  
3. Carb Cycle your meals - plan ahead; if you're going to a dinner party that will have a lot of food and drinks flowing all night long,and you know you're going to feast - then make your breakfast, lunch, and snacks healthy choices, and avoid  processed and refined ingredients.  Consume fresh fruit, raw veggies, raw nuts and good protein like salmon, soya, chicken, turkey and wild (not farmed) fish. You'll have more energy, and the extra caloric intake for that night won't have a negative effect on your waistline. 

As a side note - it would be advantageous to exercise the morning after a night out of heavy food/drink indulgence.

There you have it - 3 simple tips that if incorporated now will result in no weight gain over the holidays, and could even find a bonus of a trimmer waistline after all the celebrations are done with.
If you have any proven tips you'd like to share do leave a comment here.

To your health