Tuesday, 23rd April 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

How to lose Yuletide weight gain, by expert

By Ujunwa Atueyi
05 January 2017   |   4:24 am
Though the festive period and all the merriment are over, here is a piece of information for those that ate and drank much more than usual and have added extra kilograms, recent studies have shown ...
PHOTO SOURCE: INTERNET FILE

PHOTO SOURCE: INTERNET FILE

Extra gained over the festive period will not be lost till July, study claims
Though the festive period and all the merriment are over, here is a piece of information for those that ate and drank much more than usual and have added extra kilograms, recent studies have shown that extra weight gained over the festive period takes more than six months to shift.

According to experts from Cornell University, United States, almost 3,000 people around the world put on weight during the festive season, and then tried to lose it thereafter.

The report, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, informed that weight gained over Christmas can remain for months. It said though people typically lose half their extra Christmas pounds by the end of January, but the remaining half of the weight gain appears to remain until July.

The study co-author, Brian Wansink, Ph.D., and team say that while healthcare professionals should advise patients to employ greater self-control over Christmas, it may be more beneficial to warn them of the persistent weight gain due to holiday calories. It is perhaps no surprise that the festive season can lead to weight gain.

Christmas bulge until play starts at Wimbledon at the beginning of July.

Also, according to the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), United Kingdom, Christmas Day gorging is likely to clock up around 6,000 calories – almost three times the recommended daily calorie intake.

Furthermore, these calories can be hard to burn. The RSPH note that it takes 44 minutes to walk off a large glass of mulled wine, while burning off the calories from Christmas dinner would take one hour and 40 minutes of running.

Tips to lose weight
Now that the holidays are over and you are just realising how consequential all those extra slices of cake and spoonfuls of rice are to your weight loss goals. If you’re guilty of overindulging during the past Yuletide Season, don’t let it show on your body. As published in Club New You website, here are a few tips and tricks to get back on your fitness track and pick up on the workout routine:

Drink lots of water
Most people often confuse thirst for hunger. So before you gobble up everything you like in your fridge, make sure to drink water first. Drinking water also helps you feel full. Aside from that, staying hydrated also helps maintain your energy levels.

Eat more often
The concept of “portion control” is probably not new to you anymore but that’s only because it’s one of the most effective techniques when it comes to dieting. Clarifying this fact, those who have kept their weight off for more than a few years actually eat at least five times a day. When you consume light and frequent meals your appetite is curbed, your energy is boosted and even your mood is improved.

Put it on the record
Make sure to keep track of everything you eat and update your food journal as frequently as you can. Use a notebook, a journal, or your smartphone to jot down all of your food intake as well as your caloric intake so you know how well you’re doing. Staying aware of what you’re eating and how much you’re eating can help you improve your diet and lose those holiday pounds.

Forget all about soda
One of the worst beverages you can drink that will sabotage your holiday weight loss goals is soft drinks. Soft drinks or sodas are a major source of empty calories. It won’t only make you gain weight fast, but it will also cause numerous health problems in the long run.

Exercise more
As you go along your holiday weight loss journey, always remember to challenge yourself by upping your daily exercise. Once you go back to the gym after all the holiday hubbub, add an extra 20 minutes and go the extra mile. This will help you build up your endurance and burn more calories.

In this article

0 Comments