Gut Check: How Your Diet Can Survive the Holidays

The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s the time of the year when people’s hearts are filled with joy - and their stomach are filled with food. It starts in October with all of the Halloween treats and doesn’t end until New Year’s Day. An entire year’s weight loss progress can be wiped out in a matter of weeks!

If you find it hard to maintain or even lose weight during the “high-calorie feasting season” then you are not alone! Here at Supplementing.com we want you to continue to reach your health, fitness and appearance goals. You don’t have to “suffer” through the holiday’s. You don’t have to starve yourself and pass up on all of the treats while everyone else is binging and loosening their belts. If done correctly you can make it through this holiday season without gaining any weight.

The key to staying lean over the holiday’s is simple. It is to take everything in moderation.

The fitness experts here at Supplementing.com came up with a great list of tips to help you survive the holidays.

5 Tips to Stay Lean Through the Holiday Season

1. Drink Water, then Drink Some More

Regardless of the time of year, water should be your best friend. At work, at home or on the road, I am never without a jug of water. If you start to feel hungry or your sweet-tooth starts to feel a little left out while you are out with your family and friends, reach for a glass of water - anywhere from 8oz - 16oz. Drinking a glass of water will help curb your appetite by tricking your body into thinking it is “full”. Water is nature’s appetite suppressant plus you will stay hydrated.

2. Don't Starve Yourself

Like I wrote above, the key is moderation. Not too much, but not so little that you are unsatisfied. If you want that piece of pumpkin pie or extra gravy on your mashed potatoes, go for it. The key is to only take a small portion of it just to satisfy your craving for that food. It sounds crazy, but it works so well. It’s not the eating of certain “non-diet approved” foods that is bad - it is the over-eating of those foods. You can have your cake and eat it too - just not a huge heaping serving.

3. Never Go Out On An Empty Stomach

When I go out to eat, I go out to EAT. Well, at least the old fat version of me did. The mentality of people when they go out is to eat eat anything and everything that is in front of your face. The free chips and salsa, the bread, it is all stuff that you really don’t need but feel you have to eat. Then there is the meal itself. People want to get there money’s worth. Unfortunately for most, that means eating everything on your plate until your are completely stuffed. To prevent this, before you leave for the evening, grab something to eat that contains protein and/or fiber and drink a glass of water. This will suppress your appetite and trick your mind into thinking your stomach is full. This works really well!

4. Snack Healthy

Just as I am sitting here writing out this article, I am snacking on some almonds. At most gatherings you will find some healthy snacks to eat as appetizers or after the meal has been served. Though often over-looked, raw vegetables are something that I see during almost every meal. Raw vegetables are low in calories and healthy for you. Picture yourself on a beach in your bathing suit before you pick up that dinner roll and smother butter and jam all over it. Otherwise you will have some major regrets in a few months when it comes time to actually get into your bathing suit.

Last but not least...

5. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

The best way to avoid packing on the pounds during the holiday season is to maintain your current work out regimen - even on the day of the holiday. I will go out for a jog or a walk on Christmas. On Thanksgiving, I will go to the gym. This will provide you with the opportunity to burn off many of those “holiday calories” so at the end of the day you will put yourself in calorie bliss knowing that you burned enough calories to enjoy those tasty holiday treats!

So there you have 5 tips to help you stay leaner during the holiday season. How will you do?