Thanksgiving is just a couple of weeks away and this marks the season of eating. Many Americans will be putting on weight from now right through Christmas and the New Year. During the 6 weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year many people see their weight increase by anywhere from half a pound up to 4-6 pounds.
If you have a large family and social circle then no doubt you will be invited to a lot of parties and dinners over the forthcoming weeks. All of these events will focus on food and drink, eating and drinking. Calories will skyrocket and your body will suffer.
Although the weight is gained over a short period most people fail to lose the weight. This apparently gradual weight gain is thought to be a contributing factor to long-term obesity which leads to increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and strokes. In short, 6 weeks of excess leads to a lifetime of health problems.
So, how can you prevent yourself from falling into this deadly trap? Well, you need to prepare for the events ahead and be strict with yourself. The first challenge is to start exercising, or increase the amount of exercise that you currently do. Exercise is a great way to burn extra calories. For example, if you jog for 30 minutes you will burn around 300 calories. This is actually not many as a typical dessert will hold around 500 calories, but it does help to keep the balance. Also, after exercising your body continues to burn extra energy for 14 hours.
Just as important as exercise is keeping a very watchful eye on your diet and to plan ahead. If you know that you have an evening dinner ahead of you eat less for breakfast and lunch. A light fruit based breakfast and a small lunch, ideally a soup or salad, will provide you with enough energy to get through to dinner time. Then a 1500 Calorie dinner will not make such a huge impression on your waist line.
It is a good idea to start eating a healthier diet in general too. Do not mistake “healthier diet” with meaning “eat health food” as the two really are very different approaches to eating. Eating a healthy diet is really just following a typical diet that people would have eaten in the 19th Century up until the Second World War. A diet that consists of freshly prepared foods, is absent of processed foods, sugar, soda and junk food. Much of our problems came about as a result of the changes to food manufacturing in the post-war period.
Ideally you should maintain any new exercise plan permanently. Exercise is important not just for reducing weight, it also gives you more energy, improves mood and mental health and helps to keep a stronger immune system. It may even help ward off cancer too.
The “holiday season” is a time of overindulgence. But with a little planning, a little willpower and a little sweat you can prevent it from leading to long-term weight and health problems.
Jon Wade is the author of the Low GI Diet eBook and also runs MotleyHealth where you will find advice and help on fitness and exercise plans.
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