With the countdown to Christmas now on the temptation to dive into the chocolates and snack on sausage rolls is all a bit too much.
Whilst it is fine to let you hair down and have a great time, going all out during December can leave you feeling slugging and hungover with everything from your hair, skin and even sleep being affected.
We have some easy to follow tips to ensure you have a great time whilst still feeling great.
Make sure you eat breakfast
Never start the day hungry or you’ll be tempted to eat everything on the buffet table. Make sure you fuel up with scrambled eggs, Greek yoghurt with nuts or porridge and this will set you up for the day. If you are rushing out the door in the morning and don’t have chance to sit and eat breakfast, go with a smoothie and have it on the run.
Increase your good fats
Reducing all fat in your diet isn’t a great idea. Yes, it is good to keep away from trans fats, which are man made and found lurking cakes, crisps and biscuits. Good fats are found in nuts, avocados and oily fish. Getting the balance between unsaturated fats and saturated fats are key for good health and the good ones will keep you fuller, for longer.
Count nutrients NOT calories
Counting calories is no fun and not that effective either. Think about the goodness of what you are putting in your body rather than the number. 250 calories of chicken is very different to 250 calories of cake. They might have equal calories they will affect your body and fat stores very differently and won’t offer any goodness just problems later on.
Drink lots of water
Try to drink at least two litres of water a day to keep your body and mind healthy. If this seems too much make sure I sip it regularly rather than drink it in one go.
Enjoy the food you eat
This is the most important. If you can, go for food that’s good for you and enjoy it. Eating healthily doesn’t have to be a chore or something you feel like you have to do and by simply going for fruit over sugary desserts can make a small but important difference.
Reduce alcohol
Alcohol is full of sugar and too much sugar means weight gain and hangovers. Alcohol dehydrates you, it means you don’t always make the best decisions about what to eat and you feel rotten the next day if you haven’t had enough water.
Stay away from processed foods
Try to keep away from processed, ready made foods and meals. They are often packed with sugar, salt and the wrong type of fats. Even the meals which look healthy on a packet are probably actually not, once you look closer at the label. A jacket potato with humus or a home made soup full of fresh veg and spices are packed with goodness and the vitamins you need and are super easy to make.
Eat before you go out
Having a high protein snack before you hit the dance floor will help you avoid eating those fatty canapés and going OTT with the cocktails. Just as preparation for the night is good, so if preparing for the morning. If you have drunk whilst out ensure you have a large glass of water and a vitamin C tablet before you go to sleep.
Have fun but before you eat all those crisps, think about your waistline.