No.1 How Not to Gain Weight Over the Holidays - Women Compus - Women Campus
When you’re in college, the holiday “season” takes on a new meaning. Relinquished from the ultimate power of higher education, we trek home for an absurd amount of time to eat, drink, and party to our hearts’ content. And when you’re reunited with hometown friends and ready to hit up all your favorite joints, the last thing you want to worry about is gaining weight.
No one wants to christen the New Year bloated or spend Yuletide scrutinizing every last bite of baklava. HC already told you about healthful holiday food swaps, but read on for the best strategies to enjoy all the season has to offer without wasted waist anxiety.
Shop ‘til you drop
Home-cooked food and copious free time equal a recipe for disaster. It’ll feel great to veg out in unimpeded bliss for the first few days, but anymore than that and you’re simply not enjoying the break to its fullest. Get up and get moving! If it’s freezing outside, grab some friends and head to the mall—exercise is a blessed byproduct of shopping.
Run, run Rudolph
You have virtually no school-induced stress or pressure and plenty of time to punch up your exercise routine to compensate for extra delights. A thirty-minute Gaga-infused romp on the elliptical can negate up to 300 calories, equivalent to an indulgent holiday cocktail or slice of apple pie.
Harness the power of visualization
It’s easy to get complacent when we’re layering a t-shirt, sweater, coat, and scarf; but we’ll eventually have to unearth ourselves. Don’t allow spring semester to become a rude, love-handled awakening. Retain your fitness goals by tacking a picture of an outfit you’ve slated for New Years Eve on your bathroom mirror.
Opt for seasonal sweets
Savoring cold-weather favorites is customary this time of year, and we would never advocate avoiding your family’s best-kept culinary secrets. Prioritize and revamp your diet according to what’s most important to you. Instead of reaching for your regulatory scoop of Sweet Cream, save your calories for a limited-time only treat you treasure.
