Christmas time is upon us and though the magic of the Yuletide season grows, for many so does an accepted anxiety that Christmas time means inevitably putting on weight. But don’t surrender your waistline to an annual expansion just yet. It’s crucial not to fall into an ‘all or nothing’ attitude and write off the next four weeks if you want to keep those extra few pounds at bay.
With these tips you can make your way to January with as little excess baggage as possible, whilst still enjoying the merry Christmas you deserve!
1. Be wine-wise.
If white wine is your beverage of choice, make it a spritzer – with soda water. It’s a simple tactic that has you halving the calories per glass!
If the watering down seems impossible then go for a dry white wine or red wine which is slightly less calorific.
Equally, keep an eye out for a host of low-alcohol wines hitting the supermarket shelves. Low or alcohol free drinks is the largest emerging market in the food and beverage industry at the moment. Some of the largest retailers like Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Marks and Spencers have all announced they are riding this wave and will be selling quality wines with an alcohol content as low as 0.5%.
2. At the bar, try to think low-cal.
Choose a spirit with low calorie mixer, like vodka and soda water, over more calorific drinks like heavy lagers, ales or ciders.
If you can’t get out of having a beer choose those with lower alcohol content. A standard pint of beer contains around 160 calories but a strong bottle of lager can contain between 120-200 calories alone.
3. Be well equipped when hosting.
If you’re hosting dinner parties or Christmas drinks, don’t be without a 25ml measure!
You are much more likely to pour double measures (or more) when pouring by the eye. Having a 25ml measure on hand is crucial to making sure you aren’t accidentally overgenerous with the gin.
4. Festive hot drinks, beware!
Most people revel in the festive drinks that our favourite coffee chains offer throughout November and December. However these drinks unsurprisingly contain sickening amounts of sugar and are extremely calorific.
Best to leave them well alone and enjoy a skim-milk coffee to keep the morning chill at bay!
5. Be leftover-lean.
When the Christmas meal is over and done with and the leftover meals can begin, steer towards a turkey curry or soup rather than those hearty recipes like coronation turkey or bubble and squeak.
When you start dishing out turkey sandwiches make sure they’re on wholemeal or soy and linseed bread for a low-GI, high-protein lunch.
6. Don’t arrive at parties hungry.
There can be a tendency when gearing up for a party or Christmas-do to save one’s appetite for the event or try a last-minute fast in an attempt to look as glamorous as possible.
All this does is maximise the chances of you over-indulging when you get there!
Best to have at least a light snack a few hours before the party to ensure you’re not a permanent fixture at the buffet table.
7. Snack right.
Often it’s the in-between meal snacking that can make all the difference when the scales reveal a slight build-up of fat reserves.
Try to replace crisp or savoury snacks with breadsticks. They are just as satisfying and contain less calories – most breadsticks contain 20-25 calories whilst a handful of crisps contains around 40.
8. When the weather outside is frightful… exercise indoors!
There are many workouts that you can perform from your living room, without having to brave the cold.
HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts are perfect for burning fat with short and intense exercise routines that require very little equipment.
Often all you need is some floor space and perhaps a yoga mat. All it takes is a quick YouTube search and 30 minutes of your day to get your pump on and keep those pounds at bay.
If you’re interested in workouts like HIIT but can’t find the time, we offer 30-minute exercise classes in your workspace – all equipment provided. To find out more, simply get in touch!
9. Walk your way to a healthier Christmas.
A wintery walk across the fields of our Great British countryside is one of the most pleasing activities over the festive season. Wrap up warm and set about burning calories whilst simultaneously getting outdoors and into a more relaxed headspace.
It’s a wonderful winter’s pastime that brings with it health benefits and can also bring the whole family together too.
You might just earn yourself a glass of mulled wine afterwards as well!
At Work In Your Workout we bring the gym to you with exercise programs made available in your own workspace. From yoga to endurance training , Pilates to HIIT, we offer 30-minute sessions that can easily fit into your lunchbreak. For more information please get in touch!
Add Comment