The holidays are prime time for people to pack on a few extra pounds. What can we do to keep the extra weight off or even lose weight? Try a few these holiday weight loss ideas to not fall into the same ole holiday routine trap.
Idea #1: Play The Role of Waiter or Servant.
Instead of lounging around relaxing the whole time get involved with helping out during the holidays. Offer to wait on guests, help bring in groceries and packages from the cars, take out the garbage, do lawn work, set up tables and chairs, help with decoration, or any other task that may come up. This might not sound like a fun idea but if losing weight or keeping extra weight off is truly your goal than it shouldn’t be that big of an issue to be the helper.
Idea #2: Do Fun and Active Games and Jaunts.
Set up games for the whole family to play like a game of horse on the basketball court, a friendly flag football game, a softball game, hide and seek, capture the flag, a treasure hunt, or anything that includes moving your body. Also, think about doing an active vacation like going camping, canoeing, skiing or sledding, going to the beach or a picnic, or other fun activities. There is no reason why a family’s activity should be centered around a TV.
Idea #3: Find Time to Exercise.
One year when I was on Spring Break in Fort Myers, FL I would do pushups and crunches every morning before I took a shower and then my friends and I played volleyball all day. It was a blast but active and tiring. When I go to Myrtle Beach with my family I wake up before all of the family and go workout out in the hotels gym. It wasn’t much but getting a 30 minute workout in was exactly what I needed to start my day off right. It isn’t always easy to get a workout during a holiday but if you can you will feel proud that you did.
Idea #4: Do All The Cooking, or Only Eat Healthy Food.
One way of making sure you are eating right is to prepare all the food. If that is not possible only eat the food that you know to be healthy. Even if you eat out there should be healthy eating choices for you to choose from.
Idea #5: Cut Your Portions of Food.
Maybe you want to eat what everyone else is eating so just do it in smaller portions. You don’t have to eat a full plate of mashed potatoes, or three hot-dogs. Eating a smaller portion will keep you from over eating but still allow you to enjoy the holiday meals.
Other weight loss tips, diet recipes, and exercise tips can be found at BellyDownSizing.com.