It happens to us all – party season starts and the waist band gets tighter! This blogs helps you to survive Christmas without gaining weight.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year where we spend time with friends and family and eat, drink and be merry. Christmas doesn’t have to mean than on the first of January you sit in tears unable to do your jeans up, regret all that yummy food and have to make a new year’s resolution to half your body weight! Let’s face it, many of us have been there and done that but it doesn’t have to be like that. Here are some tips to enjoy yourselves but not completely overdo it over the next few weeks:

1. Christmas is actually only for 3 days. You don’t have to be stuffing mince pies in daily just because it’s December. Try to reduce the “treats” in the run up as much as you can and allow yourself a little more over the 3 key days.
2. Alcohol has plenty of sugar in it which adds to your daily calories – I won’t tell you not to have a glass or two because I’m likely to be mobbed and also, a small amount is really quite okay BUT – you probably don’t need to have an excessive amount at every work do, neighbours buffet, friends lunch or family gathering just because “it’s Christmas soon!”
3. There’s nothing wrong with a large glass of chilled water with a slice of lemon or lime in it – you don’t have to drink pints of juices and cokes just because you are driving. They can be full of calories or nasty chemicals and can leave you feeling bloated or on a sugar high.
4. Don’t use goose fat on your roast potatoes. Use coconut butter instead. The tatties will come out just as crispy and yummy but are not quite as toxic and damaging to your body and waistline
5. Portion size is everything – there is so much to eat at every meal so just try to have a mouthful of everything that is naughty and fill up on vegetables. The golden rule – NO SECOND HELPINGS!
6. Only put chocolates and nibbles out for an hour or two each day over the Christmas break – having a handful of peanuts or mini chocolates every time you walk past the bowl isn’t going to help that waistline and it’s very hard to resist them if they are there.
7. Don’t skip meals to “save calories”. This can wreak havoc with your blood sugar levels and cause you to end up eating more at the next meal and in snacks throughout the remainder of the day.
8. Exercise as much as you can – Adding some daily exercise particularly on the days you are indulging can be beneficial. Go for a family walk after the Christmas meal, play an active game on a games console such as a dance off or tennis tournament, go for a run or a bike ride if that’s what you fancy or even do a quick exercise DVD before everyone else gets out of bed.
9. Most of all – enjoy yourself! Christmas is a wonderful time and indulging in good food and good company is a fantastic thing – just try to remember that Christmas is 3 days and not the whole of December when it comes to eating even though the decorations are up and the socialising has started.

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!!

At Apples to Zinc we offer one to one consultations to help you get your health back on track with food. If you are interested in booking a consultation with us or want to find out more information on how nutritional therapy can help you please contact us on 07554 626765 or info@applestozinc.co.uk