Dieting Mistakes to Avoid This Christmas

The holiday season can often be a trying period for many people who struggle throughout the year to keep their weight under control. For women, in particular, it is believed to be a very stressful event, which is why there are several things they should bear in mind at all times if they want to avoid the extra weight gain this time of the year, FitSugar says.

For starters, deprivation is not the answer to staying fit. Many women start off the holiday season with the idea that they will avoid gaining weight by not eating any of the goodies they will have at their discretion lying around. However, what they almost never count on is that deprivation eventually leads to overindulging – so, in order to prevent that it’s best to enjoy some of the homemade goodies, all the while exercising moderation.

Cutting carbs for a while might be seen as a good method to lose weight, but it’s not actually advisable, FitSugar says. “With the Atkins diet craze, carbs got a bad name. Many folks still think cutting carbs is a quick weight loss trick. The dark, cold days of Winter is no time to cut the bread and pasta out of your life; carbs help in the production of serotonin, the feel-good brain chemical. Search out complex carbs and whole grains to keep your spirits high and your diet balanced,” the fitness-oriented publication explains.

Skipping breakfast is an equally bad idea because it deprives us of the energy we need to sustain ourselves for the hardest part of the day, morning until lunch. Not having breakfast can also lead to overindulging once sat down at the table and this, in turn, promotes weight gain. To stay fit during the winter holidays, we should consider keeping a food journal – while we’re at it, we must also make sure we’re not overestimating the calories burned, which is yet another common mistake that becomes all the more obvious this time of the year.

On par with overestimating the calories burned comes underestimating the calories eat – combined, they can have disastrous effects on our waistline. “Going to a party and watching what you eat takes discipline, especially when there’s a buffet. Make one pass of the table and be choosy. If something doesn’t taste worth the calories, there is no need to finish it. When attending a long party, pace yourself. Imagine the next course will be even better and save plenty of room,” FitSugar says as a means of avoiding underestimating the calories eaten this holiday season.