How to not look like Santa after the holidays

Over my past few years of living here in the Philippines, I have noticed that Christmas is a HUGE celebration here. The city is covered with light displays and I have never had to attend soooo many Christmas dinners. I think it’s great but it sometimes comes at a cost, and it is usually our waistlines. I love lechon, ham, lumpia, spaghetti and leche flan as much as the next person. But how can we enjoy ourselves and not feel so guilty after? Hopefully these five small tips will help you enjoy these holidays without packing on the extra baggage.

Enjoying Christmas with the family

1. Never go to a party hungry

You already know that the food at Christmas parties are going loaded with unnecessary calories, so plan ahead to avoid overeating them. Have a light healthy snack before going to the event so you don’t over indulge when you get there. That way, you can enjoy a few pieces of lechon instead of eating half the pig. Also try and fill your plate with small portions of everything and take your time when eating them as it takes 15 minutes for your brain to tell you its full. Enjoy the food, just don’t stuff yourself.

2. Focus on socializing

The point of Christmas parties are to meet and bond with your colleagues, friends, family or neighbors, so do just that. Focus your energy towards being social, having fun and making conversations, which all draw you away from the food table. More talking means less chewing, and the more you talk the slower you eat giving time for your brain to let you know its full.

Cooking my favorite Christmas dish: Turducken

3. Extra calories = Be a little more active

Eating all that extra food means we have to compensate for it with a little more exercise. I know the holiday season is a stressful one so just try adding a few little things to your daily routine. Take the stairs at work or walk not drive to the barangay Christmas event. Just find little ways to make up for the extra food. An interesting one might be taking the kids, wife or boyfriend/girlfriend out for a stroll around the cool Christmas light displays around the city. If your not into that then maybe spend a few extra minutes on the dance floor at one of the parties instead of standing by the bar.

4. Be aware of alcohol

The holiday celebration always calls for a few drinks. Just know that in each gram of a carbohydrate there are around four calories while in each gram of alcohol there are seven calories, which is almost twice as much. So just be aware of this when enjoying your beverages this holiday season. When selecting your drinks, try to keep it as simple as possible. A drink over the rocks is much better then adding extra calories through a mixture of different mixers packed with sugar.

5. Make sure to get some sleep

The holidays are often times when we get busy and stressed with all the things that have to get done. Make sure to get plenty of sleep and try to avoid as much stress as possible. Lack of sleep and stress have been shown in many studies to be a contributor to weight gain. Make sure to plan ahead so you’re able to get your proper sleep and still get your work done.

I wish you all a great holiday season and hope you enjoy the time with your family and friends. Enjoy every aspect of this joyful holiday and just remember one key rule: “Everything in moderation.”