It’s that time of year again, when Christmas decorations started going up in the shopping centres (even though it’s only October) and people start thinking about their office year-end functions and winding down towards the end of the year.
Because we’re tired after a long and stressful year, we tend to be a little less strict with ourselves in terms of our eating and workout routines and allow ourselves that extra glass of champagne and slice of Christmas pudding.
Don’t start stressing about January already – and the carrot sticks and endless hours in the gym – and how you’re going to lose the weight that you will be putting on in December. Luckily, there are several hacks that you can put in place to make sure that you don’t end up putting on a fortune of weight.
Drink lots of water
It is widely known that the health benefits of water are the most important elements for life. Experts say that a person can go for a longer period of time, without consuming food, than they can without drinking water. It is vital not only for our health as well as our well-being but to life in general. You have come across fitness professionals and athletes, in particular, who are very strict when it comes to consuming enough water throughout the day.
A lot of people say that drinking more water will assist you with losing more weight. However, is there any scientific proof for this? The short answer is yes. Drinking water helps to:
- Boost your metabolism,
- Cleanse your body of waste, and
- Function as an appetite suppressant.
In addition, drinking more water assists your body to stop retaining water, which leads you to drop those extra pounds of water weight. Make sure that you’re drinking the recommended eight to ten 500-ml glasses per day to keep yourself hydrated and encourage weight loss.
So, when you’re relaxing over the December break make sure that you consume enough water. Remember that alcohol and coffee dehydrate you, so if you over-indulge on either of these two make sure that you up your intake of water.
Never skip breakfast
Skipping the breakfast can mess up your body’s rhythm of alternate fasting as well as eating. When you get up, the blood sugar which your body requires to make your muscles and brain work at their best is typically low. Breakfast helps replenish it.
If your body doesn’t get that fuel that you need from food, you may feel depleted of energy — and you’ll be more likely to overeat later in the day. As, over the festive season, there are ‘naughty’ treats – such as biscuits and cake – everywhere you turn, when hunger strikes you’ll be more likely to grab one of these to stop that hunger gap.
Breakfast also gives you the opportunity to get in some vitamins as well as nutrients from healthy foods such as dairy, grains as well as fruits. If you don’t eat it, you aren’t likely to get all of the nutrients your body needs.
Go for a walk
Although we’re talking about nutrition here, remaining physically active is a good way of keeping those unwanted calories at bay. We’re not saying that you need to keep up with your strenuous gym routine over the holidays and plan your vacation according to where the nearest gym is, but don’t take a total break from being physically active. If you’re going to the beach, take a daily stroll along the shoreline. Or, if you’re going to the mountains build in a daily hike to your schedule. These activities are fun and, at the same time, you’re getting your heart rate up and are not neglecting your health.
The end-of-the-year break is a time to relax with family and friends, and to celebrate the successes of the year that’s been and plan ahead for the coming year. If you keep the principles in mind – which we’ve discussed in this article – January won’t be took much of an ordeal!
Contact Trifocus Fitness Academy
If you’re keen to brush up on your nutrition knowledge – or want to learn more about exercise and personal training – check out our range of bespoke health and fitness courses by visiting our website.
