Avoiding Weight Gain During the Holidays

On average, Americans gain about a pound of weight over the course of the holidays. That may not seem like much, but that’s weight that doesn’t usually disappear. Over the years, it will accumulate, so the best thing to do is to prevent it from accumulating during the holiday season. This can be a challenge, especially if you are already overweight and tend to celebrate over the holidays.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid weight gain this holiday season:

• Plan to maintain, not lose: Trying to lose weight over the holidays is a recipe for disaster. Odds are, you’ll not only fail at it, but fail spectacularly. It’s best to focus on maintaining your weight until January, at which point you can focus on shedding pounds.
• Stay hydrated: Water can help keep you full and take the edge off of hunger. This makes it much easier to control portions at holiday meals.
• Eat slow: It takes about twenty minutes for your stomach to register that it’s full, so take your time eating. You’ll end up eating less over the course of a meal and probably enjoy each bite a little more.
• Be choosy: Rather than rejecting all holiday treats, be selective about them. Otherwise, you may end up reaching a breaking point and overindulging as a result. Focus on the foods you’re truly looking forward to and drop the rest.
• Exercise: The best way to avoid weight gain is by exercise. There’s no way around it—staying active is the most reliable way to burn the excess calories that will inevitably come this season. Get in the habit of exercising as soon as you can. That habit will carry you through the holidays and into the coming new year.

In many cases, you can avoid weight gain on your own and start losing it at the beginning of the new year. However, sometimes more serious measures need to be taken. Malladi Bariatrics and Advanced Surgery can help you determine whether extra measures are necessary. For more information, contact us today.