Every year, majority of Europeans and Americans, tend to put on weight, at least by a pound in the period flanked by Halloween and Christmastime i.e. 31st October to 1st January. The reason behind gaining pound(s) is obvious-the temptation to feast on all kinds of mouth-watering delicacies usually gets the better of the willpower to keep one’s weight under control. Now, gaining a couple of pounds annually doesn’t seem much but if you gain 2 pounds every year for a decade, then you’re likely to become obese.
You’ll be standing yourself in good stead if you follow some unique weight loss techniques in order to burn the extra flab around the waist and the thighs. These weight loss strategies have been devised in a manner that’ll go a long way in shedding excess pounds without having to compromise on your epicurean urges. Side by side with gorging on protein-rich and fatty foods, make it a habit to consume food items that’ll fulfill your fluid needs, like vegetables and fruits.
Foods with high water content generally happen to be rich in minerals, vitamins, and fibers that facilitate the elimination of toxic wastes thereby keeping your metabolic and immune systems in perfect working order. Consume at least 8-10 glasses of water on a daily basis to keep your system well hydrated. Kickstart your day by working out at least for half an hour-running on the treadmill in the morning and jogging for 20-30 minutes in the evening.
Of course, there are other ways of workouts that you can always try and make them a regular part of your weight loss program. Getting exercises on a routine basis will keep you energetic all through the day, boost up your disposition, and enable you to sleep better that are preconditions to lose extra pounds. Refrain from drinking altogether if possible as alcohol consumption accelerates the buildup of calories.
Furthermore, imbibing drinks with high alcohol content whets up your urge to gorge fried foods and desserts. If drinking in a get-together or a family renuion is an obligation that you can’t avoid, then don’t look beyond light beers, ales, and vodkas. Drink as much water as you can in between aperitifs to prevent dehydration and stay away from martinis, daiquiris, tequilas, and heady cocktails.
A full-fledged Thanksgiving, Boxing Day or Noel party will necessarily entail a smorgasbord of delectable treats and delicacies that’ll titillate you to become a glutton. Exercising a little patience and making a resolve not to gormandize on everything that is laid out will help you to stick to your weight loss regimen. At the same time, eating sensibly will let you have your fill of both the hors d’oeuvres and main course.
Go for a breakfast comprised of poached or soft-boiled eggs, toasts smeared with margarine, and yoghurt and drink a glassful of fruit juice at the end of your brunch. A breakfast rich in protein furnishes you with the fuel to go on a shopping or decorating spree without tiring you out at the end of the day. Also, consuming proteinaceous meals expedites the fat-burning process as your body expends extra calories to break down the proteins.
Focus more on partaking protein-heavy and low-fat items at parties like salmon steaks, shrimp rolls, mushrooms, chicken kebabs, omelets, beans, and so on. Fill most of the plate with salads, vegetable foods and the rest with snacks and eat everything you’ve on your platter-after you have your fill, you won’t feel like going for another helping.
Eat every 4 to 5 hours instead of gorging on four square meals a day that’ll rev up your metabolism and keep it active. Keeping yourself busy also discourages the craving to eat more often. Heeding these weight loss stratagems will surely help you to cut the additional puppy fat that you add to your waist during the festive season.
Image credit: Don Purcell
