Published by Programme B
With Southern Ontario beach season firmly and finally in the rear view mirror for the year, you can look ahead to the holiday season. A non-stop parade of opulent dinners, rich desserts and a few too many beverages, there’s a reason people get excited for the holidays. But, from a strictly health-focused standpoint, it can be a pretty rough season overall.
Those dinners, desserts and drinks catch up to you calorically, especially since the holiday season coincides with winter, a time Canadians traditionally spend indoors and sedentary. By the time January rolls around, the gyms are filled with people eager to right their holiday-season wrongs.
But what if you could counteract that holiday weight gain during the holidays? And what if you could do so without sacrificing any of the good cheer and fun you’ve come to expect from the winter? Let’s find out how!
Find an Activity That Excites You
Most people make their first mistake when they assume working out needs to be a boring slog. They assume that they need to sweat it out in a dank gym, or do crunches until their whole body hurts. This isn’t true; exercise doesn’t have to be boring nor does it have to be punishing.
Case in point, check out the link above, which talks about axe throwing, a fun, informal sport that just happens to be great exercise. You end up having so much fun that you forget you’re exercising, which is perfect for the easy-going holiday season. Luckily, there’s a place to throw axes in London On – just check out the link provided for drop-in or scheduling information.
Rope In a Friend or Two
Exercising is easier when you have a friend around. Not only do they make the time pass more easily, through laughter and conversation, but their presence pushes you to stick with your fitness routine. Working out with others is a powerful motivator and can help you reframe the way you look at fitness: less like a chore, and more like a fun activity.
Eat What You Want… Just Less
In essence, weight management is about a simple calories in/calories out equation. If you burn more calories than you consume, you lose weight. Vice versa, you gain weight. That said, if you don’t plan on doing rigorous exercise, but still want to enjoy all the season’s delicious food, simply employ portion control.
Make Informed Choices When You Drink
Some drinks are more caloric than others. Eggnog, for instance, is quite rich, as are those mixed drinks made with sugary soft drinks. If you plan on having an alcoholic beverage or two, consider this article on the relative calorie counts of different drinks. Unsurprisingly, the following light drinks fared better:
- Vodka with soda
- Light beer
- Gin
- Champagne
Don’t Stress
Finally, even in the event that you don’t hit your exact preferred weight, don’t stress. Stress can lead to further weight gain, not to mention a slew of other health problems. It’s not worth it to beat yourself up; just step off the scale and calmly resolve to try again.
If you want to manage your weight this holiday season, you can. With fun activities, good company, portion control, informed drinking and a stress-free approach, you can keep the cheer without the bowlful of jelly.