Losing weight is a difficult task any time of year, but around the holidays, it seems impossible. As Christmas approaches, and you're swamped with preparations and shopping, making a healthy meal takes a back seat. It's also a festive time of year, with plenty of parties and big dinners full of tempting food. With some forethought, however, you can lose weight before Christmas and be ahead of the game when the time comes for New Year's resolutions. The key is to have a calorie deficit. That is, find out your basic metabolic rate -- how many calories you need to function minimally each day -- and take in fewer calories than that. A deficit of 3,500 calories means you lose one pound.
Step 1
Keep a journal of everything you put in your mouth. That means the little chocolate Santa in the break room, the candy cane on the Christmas tree and your co-worker's homemade rum ball. Food, especially unhealthy food, seems to be everywhere around the holidays, and a nibble here or there will add up quickly. Keep track so you don't eat way more calories than you think you are.
Step 2
Make a plan for your meals. With parties, epic mall trips, Christmas pageants and other events planned in the weeks leading up to Dec. 25, it can be tempting to run through the drive-through to grab some fast food for dinner. But one fast food meal with regular soda can have more calories than you should be having all day. Instead, pick one day a week to cook meals ahead of time. Choose foods that can be frozen, such as low-cal chili, soups and broiled chicken to put in a salad. Lay the dish out to thaw in the morning before you begin your busy day, and it will be just as easy to heat and eat as it would have been to grab a few fast-food meals -- and much healthier.
Step 3
Eat before you go out. Most parties around Christmas are just high-calorie, high-fat obstacle courses. Eat a decent meal before you head out, and you won't be tempted by the butter-laden appetizers and chocolate desserts. Fill your plate with fresh vegetables -- easy on the dip -- to give your hands something to do and to keep your host from insisting you try more dangerous fare.
Step 4
Make smart substitutions. Alcoholic beverages are a mainstay of holiday celebrations, but they are mainly empty calories. Instead of eggnog, have a white wine spritzer or a light beer. Better yet, have a sparkling water with a twist of lime. Elegant, calorie-free, and if you spill it, it won't stain your fabulous new party outfit.
Step 5
Work in some exercise. It's a busy season, so hourlong sessions at the gym might not be an option. But you can add a little activity to your daily chores to keep your metabolism going. When you head to the mall for Christmas shopping, park at the spot farthest from the door to get in an extra couple of minutes' walk. If you keep your Christmas decorations in the attic or the basement, carry fewer boxes than you actually can, so you have to make more trips up and down the stairs. You can even make it fun -- set aside an evening for the whole family to go to the ice rink, or take a walk to see neighborhood Christmas decorations rather than drive by, weather permitting.
Member Comments