How to Bounce Back After Overeating During the Holidays

by Michella Habre

Did you overindulge during the holidays?

These healthy tips and simple steps show you how to get back on track.

Don’t Feel Guilty

Feelings of guilt and the stress associated with the guilt can lead to further slipups and will only delay your weight-loss efforts. The damage is done! Acknowledge it and MOVE on! Get right back on track.

Make Eating In Your Goal

Go grocery shopping, stock your pantry and fridge with the healthy and nutritious ingredients you love. Make it your goal to prepare your own meals. Avoid ordering in and eating out, at least for a couple of weeks. This will help you get back to a healthier lifestyle.

Concentrate on High Fiber Foods

Fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grain pasta, brown rice, and quinoa are great high fiber carbohydrates. They will help you feel full for longer periods.

Stay Away From the Scale

Weight fluctuates on a daily basis due to bloating and water retention and seeing these fluctuations on your scale can cause emotional stress that might cause you to get off track.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Get rid of triggers. If chocolate and junk foods are available in your pantry it will be hard to avoid a nibble now and then. Everyone has special temptations they find hard to resist. Make sure they are not available.

Go Back to Exercising

If you are already a gym member, then go back to your routine. If you are not a gym member, don’t make it a resolution to start going. Most gym memberships started at the beginning of the New Year are a waste of money. Let’s face it you – are not going to use it. Just work on becoming more physically active by, for example, walking more, taking the stairs, and on sunny days, choose outdoor activities such as bicycling and hiking.

Stay Hydrated

Water is amazing at controlling hunger and getting rid of unwanted toxins accumulated over the holidays. I would advise more than the 8 cups of water that are usually recommended. Women should aim for 10 glasses of water a day and men for 13 glasses a day.

Don’t Starve Yourself

Most people try to lose weight after overeating by decreasing their meals. They aim for one meal a day in hopes of losing weight, but that is not going to work. It is proven that starvation diets do not in any way help you lose weight and may actually hinder your weight loss efforts. Stick to three healthy meals a day and 2 healthy snacks in between.

Get Organized

These tips are easy to follow as long as you plan ahead. Make them your goals instead of setting unattainable New Year’s resolutions that usually don’t work. Don’t expect drastic results. But keep at it and in no time you will be back on track and feeling great again.

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