As you likely already know, the holidays can be the toughest time of year to lose weight, or even to simply prevent weight gain. All those great foods that are reminiscent of childhood can be hard to resist, and can make it seem nearly impossible for most of us to withstand the temptation. If you have splurged already this holiday season and gotten off track, it doesn’t have to mean giving up on yourself or your efforts. Read on for some tips to help you get back on track during this holiday season.
Keep in mind that one day (or even week) doesn’t mean failure – If you give in to some temptations during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, it may feel pointless to even bother trying to get back on track with weight loss. However, if you don’t try to make up for the cheating on your diet, it can result in a complete sabotage of your efforts. Even if you splurged all week long (after all, the leftovers can be as enticing as the original meal), it’s just one week. It’s not likely you will gain more than a couple of pounds back and you can lose those quickly if you don’t delay getting back into your normal dietary routine.
It may feel like starting over again at first – If you eat enough that your stomach is hurting (as many tend to do on Thanksgiving), you may have stretched your stomach during the holiday. This means that when you start eating healthfully and in moderation again you may feel less full than you would have just a week or so ago. This is only temporary, but you can drink extra water and eat small meals often to help combat the feeling of being hungry while getting back on track to lose weight.
Instead, focus on getting back on track as quickly as possible to prepare yourself for each of the upcoming holidays that may involve cheating on your normal diet. Once you see that you can regain control of your eating habits quickly after the holiday, it will make the next holiday more enjoyable and guilt-free.