You have probably heard the saying: it's not what you eat between Christmas and New Year's that makes you gain weight, but what you eat between New Year's and Christmas. While our general lifestyle and eating habits throughout the year certainly have a major impact on how much we weigh, it may be wrong to think that the month of Christmas cannot contribute to obesity.
Several studies show that the Christmas month and similar holidays cause an average weight gain of about 0.5–1 kg among people in the West.
But no. In fact, it seems that for many people, Christmas weight persists for the rest of the year or a part of it, and some studies have proven that the month of Christmas is the biggest contributor to annual weight gain.
How do you avoid gaining weight at Christmas year after year? You do it by avoiding overeating.
People often underestimate how much of an impact periodic overeating has on body weight. But your body does not know that you are celebrating Christmas, that you are having a "cheat day," or that you are on vacation. It stores extra calories regardless.
Weight loss is related to the amount of calories consumed versus the amount burned. The more satiating the food we eat relative to the calories consumed, the less likely we are to consume more calories than we burn.
Although Christmas tables are overflowing with cakes, marzipan, and Christmas dinners, it is possible to find dishes with reasonable satiety value. These can include shrimp, eggs, lean pork tenderloin, rye bread, and boiled potatoes (which are actually one of the most satiating foods).
Many people, when they eat something "unhealthy," have the behavior of needing to eat until they can no longer take in any more, because "you can now" and it takes a long time before you can eat it again.
If bowls of peanuts, pastries, and Christmas sweets are set out, we usually eat from them every time we walk by, and these calories from snacking add up very quickly. Therefore, remove the candy bowls and eat sweets only when you really want them, not just because they are there.
The same can be said for hidden calories from drinks at Christmas parties. For example, choose water or diet soft drinks instead of sugary sodas.
In reality, however, there is no such thing as an unhealthy food—there are only unhealthy amounts. So, here is a recommendation: how about this Christmas you don't overeat on duck with gravy, but instead eat only until you are full and satisfied? Save the leftovers, and the next day you will be lucky enough to eat them again.
Christmas offers many opportunities to snack all day without controlling what you eat, and thus receiving no pleasure from the food.
