A nutritionist has explained how those who have focused on weight loss throughout the year can maintain their weight at Christmas dinner functions
While Christmas is a time for joy and celebration for many, for those that spent all year working on their body it can be a source of anxiety.
"It’s notoriously known that December is the hardest month to stay on track with our health goals, so if you feel like you're stalling, you’re not alone," she said. "During the festive season we’re surrounded by lots of food and drink that we often can’t resist. "Be kind to yourself and do what feels right for you - don’t be ashamed if you don’t stick to your goals, or if you want to but others don’t understand why.” Here are her top tips to help with maintaining balance over the festive period."Set realistic goals Lujain highlighted that many people often make their biggest mistake when they fail to decide whether they should or shouldn't stick to their current diet.
She added: "This is hugely important for those on weight loss journeys. The problem is that once we tuck into that box of Christmas chocolates it can be hard to stop. She added: "This doesn’t mean you have to be rigid and stick to an intense calorie deficit, but it can help to make sure you’re not overeating too often and give you an insight into the amount of nutrients you’re consuming. There are lots of apps that help with this.”
She continued: "Fruits and vegetables have high nutritional density, so you can have larger portions while maintaining your health goals because they have fewer calories. Lots of vegetables are also high in fibre, which means they’re an easy and healthy way to fill up. “This is where having a complete view of your day or week becomes important. Planning your meals at home and buying the ingredients during your food shop will help you stick to the routine and avoid choosing foods out of convenience or hunger when you don’t really want to.”
"There’s no shame in wanting to meet your own health goals and stay on track, even at Christmas, and setting boundaries provides space for this. If you’re visiting someone else’s house for dinner, you may even want to make them aware of your nutritional requirements.”
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