OMG Digital Magazine OMG Issue 327 4th October 2018 | Page 30

OMG Digital Magazine | 327 | Thursday 4 October 2018 • PAGE 30
Health
Health
Science Backed Ways to Avoid
Holiday Weight Gain
OCTOBER 27, 2017 | BY NICOLE MCDERMOTT
Avoiding holiday weight gain may sound as feasible as
Santa fitting down billions of chimneys on Christmas
Eve, but we promise there are logical strategies to stay
on track. Many of us experience weight gain during the
festive winter months, but packing on a few pounds in
December is far from inevitable.
Don’t get us wrong: The holiday season is all about
celebrating, togetherness, and indulging—in moderation.
So pass the eggnog and let’s tackle navigating holiday
food spreads, hectic schedules, and sidelined gym
routines.
Tips for Eating and Drinking
1. Eat before drinking and celebrating.
Skipping breakfast or lunch in order to “save your appetite”
probably isn’t the best weight-maintenance tactic. While
the jury’s still out on how important breakfast truly is, not
eating until the afternoon may lead to binging later on
(read: four slices of pumpkin pie). Our advice? Stick to a
reasonably sized breakfast with plenty of protein, which
will keep you fuller longer and temper the urge to stuff
your face later.
2. Pick protein.
Like we just mentioned, protein can help maintain a
healthy weight because high-protein diets are associated
with greater satiety (bonus benefit: It’s important
for healthy muscle growth). Make sure to serve up
some turkey, roasted chicken, or prepare animal-free
alternatives like quinoa, lentils, or beans.
3. Bring your own.
Rather than try to figure out what’s in every dish at a
friend’s party (or avoid eating altogether), bring a healthy
side dish or dessert. Taste the what you want, but know
you have a healthy alternative to fall back on.
4. Eat and chew slowly.
Eating slowly may not be easy when appetizer opt