Once Bonfire Night is over we can really start getting into the Christmas spirit and if you have your eye focused on that perfect Christmas outfit then these top tips will help to get you in party-ready shape. Ideal Weight Coach Michelle Palmer’s top tip is use your Christmas shopping trips as an Ideal workout to help you lose pounds on the run up to Christmas and into the New Year.
Michelle says: ‘Think of your Christmas shopping trips as a great way to lose pounds. Many of us walk for miles to find that perfect gift and laden with more presents than Rudolf can carry, you are burning calories through walking and weight lifting without thinking about it! Take the longest possible route to the shops or around the shopping centre and you could burn even more calories. I am recommending to my clients that they wear a pedometer to record just how many calories they are burning.” Michelle has been successfully helping clients lose weight at her weekly coaching sessions at Grattons Court, 74 Grattons Drive, Pound Hill, Crawley.
Michelle comments: “The run up to Christmas can be a key time for many people to think about their weight. On the one hand there are the Christmas parties and a desire to lose weight to fit into the party outfit, but of course the temptation to over eat and drink means managing weight at this time is extremely difficult. With the right mindset and keeping a few tips in mind, it’s possible to lose weight in the run up to Christmas and avoid piling on the pounds over the festive period, so that you are not starting all over again in January.” Michelle Palmer offers the following tips and advice:
1. Planning is key. Think about what you are eating in advance. Even before you get to Christmas Day, where the average person eats 7,000 calories alone, think of all the parties and celebrations that happen in December. With Christmas shopping in mind don’t get caught out at 1pm in the afternoon tired and exhausted only to head for the bakery.
Ensure you are hydrated, stop for a coffee or water break at regular intervals. Drink black coffee or diet drinks and resist the cream. Make sure your bag or car has a few healthy snacks too. If you park your car in the local shopping centre you can pop back at regular intervals and drop off presents, refuel on your healthy snacks and head out refreshed and lighter – after depositing your shopping.
2. Have a goal. Perhaps it is the little black dress for the party, or a special Christmas gift to yourself as a reward, but make your weight loss worthwhile and motivate yourself to the next goal. It can help to buy a dress in a smaller size, display it somewhere visible and then keep trying it on each week as you slim down to fit into your outfit.
3. Put pen to paper. When you think about writing this time of year it’s all about Christmas cards and lists to keep track of presents. Well, give yourself a present and keep track of what you are eating and write down your goals for weight loss so you can tick them off as you go. This will also help you to plan ahead
4. Try something different. Think about what you are planning to eat for Christmas Dinner and the run up to that special day. Changing small things can make a big difference and testing out your new ideas before the day will mean you don’t have a disaster in front of your family. For example, change the way you cook roast potatoes by dropping the goose fat, par boiling and using Fry light to cut down on calories.
5. It’s cold outside. You may not want to go out for a walk so why not exercise inside. Put on your favourite soundtrack and dance around the room – a good warm up for the office party, or how about an exercise DVD? If you find exercise is more fun with friends then check out your local Zumba class.
6. Plan around the party. As we hit December the office parties may feature on your calendar. Consider any parties and events you may have in your diary and think about how you can work them into your meal plan. Eating before you go won’t you leave you ravenous at the buffet table if you can’t guarantee there will be something suitable to eat. If you’re booking the Christmas meal choose a location that will cater to your meal plan.
7. Drive to avoid that tipple temptation. Alcohol is usually flowing freely at this time of year and alcohol is high in calories. You could drive to avoid drinking or limit how much you drink. You will feel better the next day and could ‘capture’ your colleagues enjoying themselves maybe a little too much on camera. You could also act as taxi driver in return for a contribution to the cost of your meal? Think of saving up for a reward on Christmas Day instead.
8. Don’t get too stressed. Christmas can be a fraught time for everyone. If you put yourself under too much pressure you could be tempted to overdo it and reward yourself with calorie laden treats. Think of your own personal reward system that avoids food but makes you feel good. Book that hair appointment or manicure early in December.
9. Dealing with the big day. Have a little bit of everything you fancy on Christmas Day, but don’t have lots of everything –moderation is key. Consuming a large, lavish breakfast and lunch on Christmas Day may result in regret. Plan your day so you enjoy yourself and don’t get left feeling you’ve overdone it.
10. Enjoy yourself. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself and you can do this without eating lots of calorie-laden snacks. If you do break your diet on Christmas day – remember it’s not the end of the world. Go for a long walk on Boxing Day to balance it out.
Keep going. If you over indulge over Christmas that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. If you start now you will have formed some good habits that will make it easier to keep going with your weight-loss and weight management in the New Year. Preparing now will mean that when January comes around you’re not caught in a yo-yo pattern of gaining and losing weight. If you would like to find out more about Ideal Weight’s approach to losing weight on the run up to Christmas and keeping it off into the New Year, contact Michelle on 07951 653537 or email michelle.palmer@idealweight.co.uk.
