After a week or two of eating cookies, cakes, high-fat cheeses, and alcohol, how can one best prepare to get back on track after the post-holiday blues? What are your tips for getting back on track in a realistic, sustainable way?
The carefree days of the holidays are over, the issues of everyday life are returning, and with them may come a few extra pounds gained during the holidays. A week or two of eating cookies and cakes, high-fat cheeses, and alcohol have taken their toll.
Here you will find out how to beat those post-holiday blues and return to your healthy eating habits.
How to get back on track in a realistic, sustainable way
Here are some tips for detoxifying and restoring the body after the holidays in a sustainable way.
Step 1: Deal with all the left-over cakes and cookies and all food of high-fat content. Throw away everything that isn’t fresh anymore, and give away chocolates and cookies to someone in need. Just make sure those distractions are no longer in your space, compromising all the healthy habits you struggled to have in your life. The sooner you return to your healthy eating habits, the better.
Step 2: Buy food that is healthy and good for you. You know what it is. Buy fruits and vegetables, fat-free dairy, whole fiber cereals, low-fat meat, and fish. You need healthy options around so that every time you are hungry, there is something good for you to eat.
Step 3: Avoid fast and strict diets. Such diets lack nutrients, deplete our body, and eventually lead to overeating. Just remember that the pounds gained during the holidays are temporary, not really a part of your body, and you can easily and quickly get rid of them. It is vital to adopt a long-term, balanced lifestyle that is feasible and reflects your life choices.
Some reminders about returning to a balanced diet
- Eat small and frequent meals daily, and consume a lesser amount of food each time to maintain a consistent metabolism.
- Don’t forget breakfast. Breakfast stimulates your metabolism and supplies the body with the energy needed to cope with activities.
- Consume plenty of fruits and vegetables (five servings/day), which are low-calorie but high in water and rich in fiber. They will make you feel full and reduce fat absorption.
- Consume whole grains. They gradually feed the body energy and help you avoid fatty snacks.
- Eat foods from all nutritional groups—lean meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, dairy, cereals, olive oil—to get all the nutrients you need.
- Consume two servings of low-fat dairy products daily (milk, yogurt). High-calcium diets reduce fat storage and accelerate its breakdown.
- Don’t eat late at night.
- Reduce the consumption of alcohol and increase the consumption of liquids, such as water, juices, green tea.
Step 4: Return to your regular sleeping pattern. Late nights out tend to disrupt your sleeping schedule, disrupt your hormones, and cause you to crave fatty and unhealthy food. When you get back to your routine and you get enough sleep, you will find that healthy eating and exercise will come more natural to you. Getting enough sleep is essential in maintaining a healthy balance and a feeling of well-being.
Step 5: Get back in shape with your workout routine. Getting back to your regular exercise pattern will contribute the most to your return to your normal weight and good habits. Exercise is your best ally! Start today and you will soon find that the training will not only help you burn calories, but it will also boost your mood and remind you how good it feels to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Adopting healthy and sustainable eating habits in the Caribbean
The secret to maintaining a healthy weight—holidays or not—is to incorporate healthy eating and exercise into your everyday life. The moment your fitness and well-being become integral parts of your lifestyle, you no longer have to worry about excess weight and dietary restrictions. If you need some help to kick-start the new you and establish those healthy habits into your daily routine, you can join the eXtreme Fitness Camps and get all the support you need. The friendly team of instructors will help you get on track and stay on track, not because you have to but because you choose to cherish your overall well-being. At eXtreme Fitness Camps, you can select among various training programs and benefit from nutritious, healthy meals and advice from a specialized nutritionist.
Beating the post-holiday blues and returning to your normal eating habits has never been easier!
References
Cooking Light, How to Bounce Back After Overeating on a Holiday, https://www.cookinglight.com/healthy-living/weight-loss/healthy-holiday-bounce-back?slide=204854#204854
SHAPE, 3 Steps To Get Back on Track, Post-Holiday Indulgence, https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/3-steps-get-back-track-post-holiday-indulgence
The Healthy, 20 Ways to Beat Post-Holiday Weight Gain, https://www.thehealthy.com/weight-loss/lose-weight-after-holidays/
Health, 32 Ways to Reverse Holiday Weight Gain in 1 Week, https://www.health.com/weight-loss/32-ways-to-reverse-holiday-weight-gain-in-1-week
