For most of us, the festive season means one thing; a free pass to eat what we want without the guilt. But what about the brides-to-be of 2017?
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For those who are dreading Christmas for this very reason, there's really no need. Luckily for us, Ramsay Health Care UK, experts in weight loss surgery and their team of nutritional experts provide their top tips on how to maintain a trim waistline this party season.
Be wise with alcohol
If you're the type that finds it easy to stay on track throughout the week but enjoys a tipple at the weekend, you'll know just how much of a barrier alcohol can be when it comes to shifting those unwanted pounds.
The biggest downfall of binge drinking are the hidden calories. The average women needs 1,500 calories per day to lose one pound per week, according to Authority Nutrition. With that said, a glass of wine alone can contain up to 160 calories and 600 per bottle. Try adding a sugar free mixer to your wine to make the drink last longer and to save the amount of units you are consuming.
To avoid going overboard, drink a glass of water between each beverage to help prevent you from feeling too dehydrated. Try cutting down with a friend too, as moral support is invaluable.
Don't over spend
Don't be tempted to over buy. When shopping, be realistic about the amount of food you will actually consume. There's no harm in being safe, but the chances are if it's leftover and in the cupboard, it's probably going to get eaten!
More than one in ten of us (11%) believe that fatty foods are much cheaper than fruit and vegetables , which isn't always the case . The average cost of getting five portions of fruit or vegetables per day is £2.50, making the holidays a great time to introduce more fresh produce into your diet.
Be your own host
There's no doubt that you'll be invited to a wealth of parties throughout December and the New Year, but won't know what's going to be served up. One way to stay in control is to host your own event, where you won't feel pressured to polish of what's on your plate and be tempted with indulgence. Perhaps invest in a smaller set of plates and glasses to manage your portion sizes too. To ensure your guests still feel like they're having a treat, on Christmas day, try serving a vegetable based soup to start, turkey as your main meat and grill the rest to ensure as much fat as possible is drained. Opt for a homemade fruit pudding for dessert.
Remind yourself
In a recent survey of 1,200 UK adults, 29% of us blamed 'lack of willpower' for not eating well, so it's important to keep your main aim at the front of your mind. Try to set yourself smaller goals this Christmas, and remember that any progress is good progress! If you have previously lowered your caloric intake, perhaps up this a little once or twice per week to avoid the urge to over indulge. If you do happen to go over, make up for this by upping your activity level (a crisp winter walk can be just as relaxing as sitting on the sofa!).
Enjoy it
Lastly, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Remember it's Christmas and you should be having fun. People are most likely to overeat when they are bored (40%), so just make sure you keep busy and active to ensure you burn more calories than you consume, to avoid the Christmas pounds!
Visit the Ramsay Health Care UK website for more top tips on eating well: http://www.ramsayhealth.co.uk/blog/2016/09/30/what-is-the-true-cost-of-eating-well