Weight loss experts share the best ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive season
On average Britons have 3000 more calories on Christmas day
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At the festive time of year, we can all be tempted by the leftover pigs in blankets or the odd mince pie before it goes off, but lots of these foods are high in calories.
According to weight loss clinic, The Slimming Clinic, Britons can gain up to 4lb during the festive season.
Experts from The Slimming Clinic suggest that people can moderate their weight effectively and even lose weight over Christmas.
Dietitian Sara Abdula advised those who love a mince pie, to take the pastry off to cut the number of calories in the treat. She said: "Pastry is pretty fattening so cutting it out where you can will help trim down your overall daily consumption.
"Or if you’re a culinary connoisseur and you make your own mince pies, opt for filo pastry instead. One puff pastry sheet has 620 calories, whereas two sheets of filo pastry are 80 calories, a sure easy winner."
It can be tempting to have leftovers at Christmas
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The expert advised those who don't want to have lots of alcohol, to have a cosmopolitan. She said: "With a lower calorie content than other drinks plus a high number of anti-oxidants from the cranberry and lime juice, the cosmopolitan is a better option of alcoholic beverage."
But if the cocktail is not what you fancy over Christmas, Sarah recommended having mulled wine with at least 50 per cent orange juice mixed in with it.
Sarah suggested: "Mixing your mulled wine with 50 per cent orange juice [is a great] way you can enjoy the traditional warming Christmas drink with added vitamin C, a higher fruity flavour and only 111 calories for 175ml."
She did say that it is important not to miss out though with others on "a glass of bubbly" as Christmas is a time for celebration and you can not be too strict with yourself.
The expert said: "Just because you’re being careful, don’t miss out on the celebratory drink. As the glass is smaller, you’ll be drinking less than opting for a cocktail and the bubbles will fill you up quicker meaning you won’t want to drink as much."
Over the festive period, it can be easy to let a few bad habits creep in too. It may be tempting to have something from the selection box or a quick snack to pass the time. The expert said: "Don’t let this time of year put you off your diet or give you an excuse to gorge on rubbish."
She added: "You can still join in the festive fun with healthy seasonal snacks such as satsumas which are high in vitamin C and roasted chestnuts which are low in fat."
For extra motivation, Carol Standing from The Slimming Clinic said: "Buy a gorgeous outfit for your festive and New Year’s Eve celebration. Try it on each week to keep it at the forefront of your mind and visualise how you want to feel when you wear it."
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For motivation, the experts said to have an item of clothing you will want to wear
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For any leftovers, the experts advised not eating them straight away or throwing them in the bin. Sarah suggested: "This is what a freezer, friends and family are for. Send loved ones away from Christmas day with ‘care packages’ of food and freeze what you don’t eat for late in the year."
With New Year's on the horizon too after the festive period, motivation tends to increase for people to follow a diet and lose weight.
Courtney (known as @dieticianwithtwins) shared recently some diet tips she "swears by" will produce results in "just weeks."
These nutrition tips for weight loss in just weeks were:
- Eat 30 to 50 grams of protein at breakfast
- Start volume eating, stocking up on foods that are nutrient-dense but not calorie-dense
- Have a plan - don't wing it
- Fast for 12 hours per day to give your metabolism a chance to go into fat stores
- Stay hydrated
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