How not to gain weight over the New Year holidays

Family dinners, work corporate parties, meetings with friends at home and in cafes – we often spend the end of December and the beginning of January almost without getting up from the table. Rather, moving from one table to another. It is no coincidence that the associations with the New Year for many are primarily food: traditional salads and duck with apples, champagne and tangerines, gingerbread and mulled wine. Is it possible not to get better when there are so many temptations around?

1. Don’t eat emotions

Not all holidays cause positive emotions. Someone experiences stress from not having time to buy gifts, prepare for a celebration, or finish all work. Many feel lonely because they have no one to spend New Year’s Eve with. Finally, some are anxious about meeting relatives and uncomfortable conversations at the festive table.

“Are you married yet?”, “We wish you a good job next year,” or “Let all your troubles be in the past” – even if said without malicious intent, these phrases cause many people to feel anxious. Therefore, putting the next piece on your plate, ask yourself, are you really hungry or are you trying to eat anger, sadness, anxiety and stress?

Think ahead of time about situations that can throw you off balance and trigger emotional overeating. Mentally prepare for them. If you find yourself calming down with food, don’t blame yourself. So it will be even worse. Just promise that next time you will try to treat food more consciously.

2. Don’t promise yourself to go on a diet after the holidays.

This approach is fundamentally wrong and sets up the absence of any restrictions whatsoever. At least trying to control yourself, you will eat much less. But the thought of a diet after the holidays will make you eat up every time for the future.

3. Follow the once rule

When going to a big family celebration or a friendly dinner, promise to try all the dishes, but only once and little by little. If you especially liked some treat, ask the hostess for the recipe or ask for a “supplement” to take with you. So you have a chance to get up from the table without a feeling of heaviness in the stomach.

4. Don’t Starve Before Your Holiday Dinner

Nothing to eat all day before the New Year’s meal – the worst thing you can think of. If you are very hungry, you will eat much more than you can and provide yourself with digestive problems. It is better to eat all day as usual, and an hour before dinner, eat something light (yogurt, vegetable salad with olive oil, egg or apple) and be sure to drink a glass of water.

5. Be careful with alcohol

At the very least, don’t drink on an empty stomach. Not everyone can completely give up alcohol on holidays. Alcohol is bad not only for its calories, but also because it stimulates appetite, retains fluid in the tissues and reduces vigilance. What kind of conscious approach to food can we talk about after a couple of glasses?

In order not to lose your head, limit yourself to dry wine and champagne (they have fewer calories), say a resolute “no” to liquors, cocktails and strong alcohol. Drink in small sips, alternate a glass of wine with a glass of water.

6. Eat slowly

Don’t pounce on food like it’s your last meal! During the holidays, you will have many opportunities to try a variety of dishes. Enjoy the aroma and beautiful serving. Think about what you want to try first and what you can do without. For example, why lean at the New Year’s table on bread and potatoes? You can also eat them on weekdays. Give preference to fish and meat (not industrial production), vegetables and fruits.

It takes our brain 20 minutes to become aware of the feeling of fullness. Therefore, eat with feeling and sense, carefully chew what you eat. Try to communicate more – talking with a full mouth is difficult.

7. Think of a way to burn calories

Fitness clubs during the New Year holidays are usually empty. And rightly so: playing sports the next day after serious alcohol libations is unhealthy. However, there are many other ways to spend the calories received: a walk in the winter forest, skating, skiing and sledding, going to the sauna with friends, a dance party with former classmates, a family outing to the climbing wall or to the water park.

Lots of options. So think in advance of activities for all days of the winter holidays, which will be an alternative to going to cafes and visiting.