5 Tricks to Slim down during the Holiday Season

The truth is, you can eat whatever you want during the holiday season and still lose weight. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not! If you eat …

The truth is, you can eat whatever you want during the holiday season and still lose weight. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not! If you eat within your calorie budget, you’ll maintain or lose weight. It’s that simple. The trickier part is making sure you also feel satisfied, full and energized. Follow these simple steps to enjoy your holiday season while still losing weight.

1. Eat 30% of your calorie intake from protein

Adding slightly more protein to your diet is a great way to avoid overeating. It fills you up on fewer calories, while also balancing out your blood sugar. You’ll be satisfied all day without sugar cravings, even if you enjoy a serving of apple pie, cookies or cocoa. Just make sure you eat about 20 grams of protein together with your high sugar indulgent. Enjoy!

2. Eat 100g of veggies with all your meals

Vegetables will decrease your overall calorie intake as it makes you full on almost zero calories, and provide healthy dietary fiber that reduce blood sugar drops. You probably know the expression to “eat with your eyes”. When adding vegetables to your plate, you’ll perceive the plate as full and by consequence eat less from the caloric part of your meal.

3. Know your calories – Turkey is a fantastic slim food!

Learn how the different holiday food compare to each other. Some might be great for weight loss, while others contain more calories than you would imagine.

Turkey and seafood are excellent low calorie, high protein choices, while you’ll want to cut back on sausages and dressing. Just make sure you stay within your calorie budget and your weight will remain stable.

4. Hydrate – Remember to drink 8 glasses of water per day

Holiday foods typically contain a lot of salt and increases thirst. Ironically, we easily misinterpret thirst for hunger or cravings, making us eat more when we need to drink more. Make sure you drink plenty of pure water throughout the whole holiday season (and all other seasons) to avoid sugar cravings.

5. Stay active – Get moving at least 30min per day

Even if you don’t feel like going to the gym, make sure you participate in activities to increase your calorie burn. Clean, carry out plates, do the dishes, or play with your kids – it all counts!

Don’t know your daily calorie budget? Wondering what foods contain 20g of protein? Or maybe you want daily water reminders?

Sign up for Lifesum below to get a full overview of your nutrition count, macros, and access to a huge food database with calorie listings.

Let’s make this a healthy holiday!

All of the content and media on Lifesum is created and published for information purposes only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Users should always consult with a doctor or other health care professional for medical advice. If you have or think you are at risk of developing an eating disorder, do not use the Lifesum app and seek immediate medical help.