4 Tips to Make Sure You Lose Weight This Christmas

Wouldn’t it be great to lose weight this Christmas? It doesn’t have to be a dream. Yes, losing weight over Christmas really is possible. It’s all about planning, preparing and being in the right mindset.

I’ve lost weight every Christmas but one. That year I gained, it was half a pound and was my first year back on Weight Watchers after having my daughter. Needless to say, I was making up for everything I couldn’t have the year before (pates, blue cheeses etc).

So, how can you lose weight this Christmas? Here are my top four tips to make sure you do.

Plan Ahead for the Season

Go into the supermarket with your shopping list. By planning ahead and making a list, you’re not as likely to buy the random items on offer. Just think of what that does to your financial budget!

Start by making a list for everything you’re going to need on Christmas Day. Move onto Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve/Day from there and then think about over the season. We prefer to do two lots of food shopping, so we’ll buy our Christmas stuff in the days running up to Christmas and then focus on New Year afterwards.

Stick to that list when you get to the supermarket. Yes, there will be mince pies on offer and crisps and chocolates calling out to you, but did you put them on the list? No, you didn’t forget about them! You just know you don’t need them.

Be Realistic With the Treats

You are allowed some treats when it comes to Christmas and New Year. I never track what I eat on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and I always allow myself some treats. This year, there will be no pate, blue cheeses and alcohol again, but there will be other options.

The trick is to be realistic. Just think about the amount of food you ate last year for the sake of it. How much of it went in the bin?

There’s nothing wrong with not buying those large boxes of Celebrations chocolates. Last year, we got one of the small boxes instead of the large tubs. There was enough for everyone to enjoy some and we didn’t feel deprived. In fact, we all felt better for not having a large box of chocolates waiting for everyone to eat.

Avoid the mince pies if you know they’re hardly going to be touched. Don’t bother with multiple packs of crisps. The only day that most shops aren’t open is Christmas Day. If you really want some extra treats, you can pick them up on other days. Chances are you won’t bother and you won’t miss them!

Have a Filling & Healthy Dinner

Christmas Day lunch is usually Filling and Healthy. It’s your lean turkey, potatoes and vegetables. You can reduce the amount of oils you use and make sure what you make is good for the Weight Watchers Filling and Healthy plan.

Fill up on these options and listen to your body. You’ll find that you don’t want to snack as much afterwards.

There’s always something left over for the next couple of days, so focus on Filling and Healthy dinners afterwards. Not only will they make you feel fuller, but they are also healthier options for you. Most have fewer carbs and unhealthy fats.

You can also make Filling and Healthy desserts. Try fruit salads instead of the cakes. We always buy yogurts and meringue nests to make a delicious Eton mess style dessert. It adds something sweet without it being over the top.

Get Out for a Walk


How many of you stay indoors all Christmas? Maybe this year you can do something different. Why not get out for a family walk?

Christmas Day may be out of the question, but you can always get out Boxing Day and the other days around it. You don’t even need to go anywhere specific. A local park or woodland trail would be great. Children don’t want to be cooped up in the house all the time.

Pop your pedometer on and get out in the fresh air. You’ll feel better for it and you’ll avoid eating all the food in the house!

If you don’t want to go outside, you could always do a bit of shopping. Spend that money you got in your cards and do more steps that way.

You can lose weight this Christmas. It’s not a dream. Make it a reality this year by following the above tips.


Have you lost weight over Christmas? Feel free to share your tips in the comments below.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

100 Day Challenge Day 28: Staying In Control on a Busy Day

Image
I mentioned yesterday on the 100 Day Challenge that Wednesday was going to be busy. I expected to eat the majority of my weekly pro points that I had left. In the end, I only went into a small amount of them. The whole way I did that was by staying in control and making good choices . That’s an important part of losing weight. Yes, I could have stuffed my face with chocolate because there were periods when I really wanted to, but I didn’t. I didn’t deprive myself either. When I wanted chocolate, I told myself that I would get it later (knowing that I’d have some later anyway).  It doesn’t have to be boring making good choices. Rather than having a bit of chocolate at the end of the night, I shared a punnet of strawberries with my husband and daughter. They gave me the sweet kick that I needed to finish off the day. They were juicier and more delicious than a bar of chocolate, too. While doing all that, I’m also drinking more water. I’ve even decided to start my day...
Read more

Halloween Party Ideas to Lose Weight

Image
If you’re hosting a Halloween party this year, the idea of weight loss during this time can be daunting. Even if you’re not hosting the party, the thought of dealing with all the candy and chocolates can be terrifying when you’re losing weight. Here are a few Halloween party ideas to help you stay in control in the run-up and on the night. Have Some Healthy but Fun Snacks Image: Alexandria Ingham You don’t just need to get chocolates, candies and cookies in. Why not have some fun with some healthy snacks? I loved making some of these last year, and did mini orange pumpkins and banana ghouls.  I blogged about some fun Halloween party ideas last year, and you can find that blog post here . If you’re hosting the party, put them out for your guests. Even if they don’t want to eat them, you have something to enjoy. If you’re attending a party, take a platter of your creations with you and share with your friends. That can be your hostess gift. Set a...
Read more

Why Eating Fruit and Vegetables Isn’t Enough to Lose Weight

Image
I received a message yesterday from someone looking for some weight loss support. She mentioned that she was eating lots of fruit and vegetables but still not losing weight. Okay, well, eating fruit and vegetables isn’t enough to lose weight. Yes, really! While eating fruit and vegetables can help—it certainly gets you your nutrients—it isn’t going to give you everything your body needs. In fact, too many fruit and vegetables can lead to weight gain. And you need to look at all the other stuff you’re eating! Be honest with yourself. So, let’s look at this in stages… Eating too much of a good thing is bad Yes, you really can eat too much of a good thing. Want to know why? Because you run the risk of not getting a balanced diet. While you get your fibre and nutrients from fruit and vegetables, you need to get carbohydrates, protein, and some fats. Yes, your body needs fat! By the way, fruit is full of natural sugar. While it’s not as bad for you as...
Read more