Stay Well Hydrated to Better Manage Holiday Weight Gain

Have you ever gained 10 pounds over the Holidays? Although many of us may have felt like it, recent studies now show that an American adult has an average weight gain during the holiday season of just one pound. Nonetheless, it can take months, if ever, to shed the unwanted weight. Although it is definitely not easy to stay slim, especially during the winter holidays, there is more to life than eating and your Holiday weight gain can be managed. However, excess weight doesn't just go away and often it takes careful planning to keep for falling into a deeper holiday sink hole. Since water actually helps your body move food through the digestive system faster and more efficiently, try to consume the recommended amount of water each day and rely on water rich foods, like a fresh garden salad or watermelon slices, to keep you well hydrated.

• DRINK MORE WATER - In today's world of stylish workouts, bringing your own water bottle to a party is in vogue. Moreover, with all of the running around during the holidays, having a reusable water bottle on hand guarantees you will have your hydration stash with you.
• INTERMITTENT FASTING WORKS - Intermittent fasting is not an exercise in starvation. In fact, fasting is a very calculated and controlled absence of food that offers unique advantages in countering periods of overeating.
• ADD HOLIDAY EXERCISE - Experts say that just ten minutes of cardio exercise added to your daily routine can counter the ill effects of the winter holiday season. You can even split up the ten minutes by fitting in some jumping jacks or running in place. It will help your body burn those calorie dense foods.
• BE PICKY BUT EAT - If you choose your indulgences wisely, you want waste calories on foods that you can have throughout the year. So, avoid everyday temptations and allow yourself a seasonal treat but only when the mood strikes.
• LEARN TO USE WILLPOWER - You will be much less likely to spot a holiday treat that you simply can't resist if you socialize away from the food table. When attending a holiday party or dinner, never stand around or settle into a sofa next to a table filled with temptation.
• PORTION FOOD SIZES - Since holiday meals tend to be quite large, a common mistake is eating too large of portions for what is perceived as healthy. Although it is important to include nutrient rich foods on your plate, all food types should be consumed in moderation to avoid overindulgence.
• CONCENTRATE ON YOUR MEAL - When preparing holiday meals, snacks and treats, slash unwanted calories with easy swaps and substitutions. Eliminate excess calories, saturated fat, sodium and added sugars that are hiding in traditional holiday foods and drinks.

It is illogical to think that you are going to just ignore the holiday food table and pass on all the tempting treats being forced on you for the full six-week period known as the winter holidays. So, take the time to come up with an eating strategy. According to an article in Psychology Today, your brain responds to just thinking about food by sending pleasure signals. Moreover, people who profess that they are not going to eat a specific food may have made it more difficult to forget the hunger pang they created. To avoid feeling completely drained when you ring in the New Year, you must empower yourself to manage what you eat, how you indulge in alcohol, what counter measures you employ to manage seasonal stress as well as what, when and how much you choose to eat.

The Holidays are not the Holidays without feasting on tempting seasonal treats. Visit Metabolic Research Center online for weight-friendly recipe options including pumpkin spice pancakes, easy to make crock pot brownies, apple pie cheesecake, caramel corn and vanilla bread pudding. Let us help make your winter holidays special.