How to Avoid Weight Gain at Christmas (and Still Enjoy Yourself!)

We all want to have fun this festive season, but no-one wants to put on excess weight. Follow the tips below to enjoy the holidays while keeping your health goals on track.

Set Realistic Goals

• The festive season is not a time for drastic measures. Setting a goal of losing a certain number of kg’s over Christmas will only stress you out and rob you of your festive spirit.
• Instead, enjoy this special time of year with your little ones. But have an achievable goal in mind, such as to break even. You don’t need to lose weight, but why not aim to prevent gaining any weight. This way, come January and your New Year’s resolutions, you’ll be a lot closer to achieving your end goal.
• If you’re planning a big celebration meal, enjoy In Shape Mummy Health Shakes for two other meals during the day. This helps reduce overall calories while ensuring you still enjoy the festivities. Our shakes and snacks make staying on track easy and stress-free.

Start your day off on the right foot

• Practise Gratitude. Each morning when you wake up spend 5 minutes thinking about all the things you are grateful for in your life. This will put you in a positive frame of mind and colour your whole day in a happy way.
• Practicing Gratitude will help to calm your mind. And when you're in a good state of mind you're more likely to make healthy choices to nourish your body.
• Being a mother and having our little ones is such a precious gift which we can all be grateful for.

Eat breakfast

• People who don't eat breakfast are generally hungrier later in the day which can cause overeating and weight gain. Breakfast fills you up before you become really hungry, so you’re less likely to just grab whatever foods are nearby when hunger really strikes (for example high energy, high fat foods with added sugars or salt). 
• An In Shape Mummy Health Shake is a quick, easy and healthy option for breakfast. 

Eat Mindfully

• Chew slowly and savour every bite. When you chew slowly you give your body a chance to let your brain know when you're full, reducing the risk of overeating.

Handling Festive Temptations

• Re-Gift Chocolates: If you receive chocolates, consider giving them to someone else to avoid temptation.
• Eat Before You Go Out: Have a healthy snack like a banana before attending events so you don't arrive too hungry to avoid overindulging.
• Watch Your Drinks: Choose sparkling water with fresh lemon instead of sugary drinks. If you’re drinking alcohol, opt for lower-calorie options like gin or vodka with sparkling water and a squeeze of lemon.
• Skip Heavy Sauces: Creamy or buttery sauces add extra calories. Use them sparingly or ask for dressings on the side when dining out so you can manage the amount on your dish.

Prioritise Health Options

• Fill Up on Veggies First: Start with vegetables and fruit before indulging in richer dishes. This strategy helps you feel satisfied and prevents overindulging on dessert.
• Portion Control: If you’re tempted by seconds, make your portions smaller or focus on healthier items for your refill.
• Enjoy Treats in Moderation: Have that treat you love, but keep the portion size small or share it with someone.

Take something healthy

• Surprise your friends with nutritious and delicious options like a vibrant mango salad, fresh prawns with homemade sauce, or a colorful fruit salad. These choices balance out the more indulgent items at the table.

Stay Hydrated

• Drink at least two liters of water daily. Our brains often mistake thirst for hunger, so staying hydrated can help you avoid overeating. 
• Carry a water bottle and flavor it with fresh fruits like lemon or orange for variety.

Keep moving

• Try to get more steps into your day. A daily walk is ideal. Walking not only burns calories, but it releases endorphins ("feel good" chemicals) in your brain. And it helps you make healthy choices - when you feel healthy it makes you want to eat healthy.
• Each morning when you wake up put your workout clothes on first. This will make you feel more like exercising. Get them ready the night before.