Smart Ways to Avoid Christmas Weight Gain

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It's okay to be hungry

Um… didn’t we just say “don’t go hungry”?

The fact is, there are two kinds of hunger. Physiological hunger (above) is the need to eat to stay alive and well. This time, though, we’re talking about hunger that you feel because you’re bored, or stressed, or depressed, or simply see some food you want. Responding to this kind of hunger easily leads to extra weight gain.

“It's okay to be hungry” means it's okay to feel a sensation that you believe is hunger, without acting on it. This Christmas, give yourself time to think before the impulse to eat takes over. When you feel "hungry" give yourself 30 seconds to "check" your hunger - is it true hunger or has something prompted you to want to eat?

Don't use food to medicate yourself

If you have an emotional need, talk to someone

'Tis the season to... overuse food to avoid emotional discomfort?

No matter how stressed or blue you're feeling, or how much better you think you’re going to feel if you eat, don't fall into the trap of emotional eating at Christmas time – in the end, your emotional health will be worse for wear, not better. And, of course, you’ll have the kilos to show for it.

If you have an emotional need (and many people do around this time of the year), try to work through it. Talk to someone about what’s going on, write it all down, be kind to yourself, distract yourself if you have to.

During this Christmas, remember: Eat for health, eat for enjoyment, eat foods you like, but don't use food as a drug to kill pain or stress.

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During this busy time of year, it's easy to find exercise-avoiding excuses: "I have to do that extra grocery shopping,” "I need to decorate the tree,” " I have to buy and wrap all the gifts.” This inevitably leads to small doses of unwanted weight gain.

Simple advice: Ignore these excuses and exercise anyway. True, you are busier – but get creative. Park the car far away from the entrance to the supermarket so you have to walk further, for example. Going for a walk along the river with your visitors instead of sitting down to coffee and cake, and taking the stairs instead of the escalator when doing your Christmas shopping are other examples.