You don't have to be scared to get on the scales with these tips
Christmas is coming and that usually means our weight starts increasing too. Around this time of year the drinks are flowing and plenty of merriness often results in plenty of food. Not this year though.
Personal trainer at the Milestone Hotel in Kensington (www.MilestoneHotel.com), Andy Elliot shares his expert know-how on avoiding a guilt-free Christmas.
1. Take a winter walk
Start the Christmas holidays with a brisk winter walk. This will instantly raise your metabolism and work up a calorie deficit – the best start to this indulgent break.
2. Mini morning workout
I’m not suggesting you spend Christmas Day sweating in the gym, but these quick exercises are a great way to boost your metabolism for the entire day:
- LADIES: First thing in the morning, hop out of bed and get into a plank position and hold it for as long as possible. This is a great habit to get into, as it will draw your stomach muscles in, switching them on and helping you to feel thinner all day long, even with all the indulgences that Christmas day brings.
- GENTS: Set yourself a daily press up challenge – as many press ups as you can until you collapse, one minute break, and then repeat. You will be surprised how quickly press ups will become a doddle.
3. A three minute burst of activity
One simple trick is to spend three minutes squatting before you sit down to eat. It might sound insignificant, but this short sharp burst of intense activity will raise your metabolism dramatically and help your body to burn calories whilst you feast.
4. Start the day with a hot water and lemon
Start your days right with a mug of hot water and a generous squeeze of lemon (but avoid dropping the lemon wedge into the mug as the skins are often contaminated with fertilisers). The lemon helps to alkalise the stomach and settle the PH, preparing it for what is bound to be a day of rich, acidic food.
5. Drink plenty of H2O
We all know that we’re supposed to drink eight glasses of water a day, but how many actually do it? Try drinking a large glass (500ml) of water before you sit down to lunch. This will help you to feel fuller quicker and eat less of those calorific roast potatoes and rich Christmas pud! Try to avoid drinking whilst you eat though, as this can disturb digestion and leave you feeling bloated.
6. Ditch the wine
At around 250 calories per glass, wine is a big contributor to that festively plump feeling. But it’s Christmas, so I’m not suggesting you stick to the water! Swap the wine for refreshing vodka, tonic and lime, and you’ll save 200 calories per glass – allowing for another helping of healthy Christmas veg!
7. Break tradition and avoid goose fat
If you’re in charge of cooking Christmas lunch, try swapping the traditional goose fat for olive oil on your roast potatoes. This will make the perfect roast spuds - crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside – but without the scary calories.
8. Choose an alternative mashed potato
Swap your mashed white potatoes for a more colourful sweet potato – both nutritious and delicious! Higher in fibre than their white brothers, sweet potatoes also provide 400% of your daily requirement of Vitamin A and provide more vitamin C – whilst also being lower in calories.
9. Pile you plate high, but do it carefully
When filling your plate, do it with these rules in mind:
- 50% should be vegetables and try and eat these first – they will fill you up and are full of vitamins and minerals essential to a healthy diet.
- 25% of the plate should be carbohydrates such as roasted and mashed potatoes. About a handful should be plenty, and will ensure that you don’t have to roll to the sofa after lunch…
- 25% of your plate can be devoted to the main guy – the turkey. A rich source of protein, turkey is also full of iron, zinc, potassium, Vitamin B6 and niacin – essential for the body’s energy production. It’s also really low in fat.
10. Choose your chocolate treats wisely
Another top tip is to be picky when it comes to chocolate! Dark chocolate varieties have high levels of antioxidants, which have more benefits for the body. Transforming a naughty treat into a slightly healthier one.