The first time you jump on the scale after the holidays, it might be a particularly traumatizing experience. Weight has a way of creeping up on you at this time of the year. You might even be one of those who is afraid to look at the number on the scale. Yes, I know, it’s time for a killer weight loss strategy!
As you may know from reading my blog, I’m NOT a quick weight loss advocate. I believe in the slow and steady lifestyle approach. However, I know those holiday pounds on your hips or in your belly don’t feel good. So let’s talk about a few quick and easy strategies to get the weight loss effort moving in the right direction.
For a start, consider limiting or cutting out alcohol until you get back down to your desired weight. Alcohol is just empty calories (and a lot of them) and I’d rather have you concentrate on EATING calories instead DRINKING them. If you really can’t do without your beloved alcohol, consider pouring less of it and having it less often.
After the holidays, it’s common to feel incredibly bloated. Often times this is due to a higher refined carbohydrate intake and/or water retention. The fix for this? Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and cut back on refined and processed grain products (like bread, cookies, cakes, pies, etc). This will help you drop excess water weight, and you can replace the non-nutritious flour-based products with vegetables and fruits.
One of the reasons for weight gain over holidays is many of us over-indulge on rich treats and we eat larger portions. Now that the holiday is over, it’s time to push the rich treats to the back burner as occasional treats, and go back to normal portions. Truth be told, I believe that most of us who are struggling with weight issues have probably fallen victim to PORTION issues :-). If you’re looking for weight loss after the holidays—look to put smaller portions on your plate. Plain and simple!!
Aside from portion control, one of my best weight loss solutions for you is to write down your food intake each day. Yep. I know. It’s tedious. However, IT WORKS! You’d be amazed at all the little things that go into your mouth that you forget about when you mentally recall your daily food intake. When you WRITE DOWN your daily intake—it’s easier to keep track of what goes in your mouth!
Finally, in your effort to get on the weight loss wagon after the holidays, I’d suggest you start making an appointment with yourself for regular exercise. I like interval training to spur on faster weight loss, but if you’re new to exercise, just getting out for a brisk walk, a hike, or some time on cardio machine at your health club is certainly a start.
Weight loss after the holidays doesn’t have to be daunting. In fact, if you only gained a few pounds over the holidays, and you employ just one of the strategies I’ve told you and return to your normal, non-holiday eating patterns, you should be back to normal weight within a couple of weeks.
Get out the the “indulgent” calories, be aware of what you’re eating and your portions, and schedule exercise. That’s it. There’s your post-holiday weight loss plan!
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Getting fit and healthy is amazing for your body and self-confidence. It can also take years off your appearance. Dropping a few pounds can thin out your entire body, especially your face which is what people usually see first. It can also reduce the appearance of fine lines.