Christmasitis

“Christmasitis”, noun: the inflammation, bloat, and self-sabotage that begins on December 1st and ends just after Australia Day at the end of January.” 

As defined by Michele Chevalley Hedge, Nutritionist & Founder of A Healthy View

Pop, Pop, Pop.  You can hear the champagne corks now.  And with each pop, you feel your willpower shrinking and your waistline bloating.  Yes, it is true from December 1^st to the end of January it is not unusual for many Australians to put on one to two kilos or even more.  Six easy health messages will ensure you don’t have a true blow out of your weight or wellness.   Let’s keep it SIMPLE.

Many people will gain one to two kilos over the holidays. The combination of summer and the festive season can catapult many of us into an eating frenzy. Christmas parties, end-of-the-year parties, welcome-to-summer parties, New Year’s Eve parties, and a host of other celebrations can bring out the Sugar Monster in the healthiest of us. You don’t have to be a Scrooge and not enjoy the celebrations, but consider some ways to keep yourself from feeling miserable about how you indulged once the fun dies down. If you take heed of the following tips, you should feel delighted and encouraged by all the possibilities that come with the fresh start of a new year.

S- Sugar.

Glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose...  Too much sugar of any kind is exactly that, too much sugar, and will lead to excess weight and bloating, not to mention your energy roller coastering up and down.  Be sugar savvy.

*all measures are approximate.  Source: http://www.calorieking.com.au/

I-Increase your breakfast

.  Crazy right?  You're watching your weight and a nutritionist is telling you to eat more? Eat a protein-packed breakfast that is satiating. Two scrambled eggs with feta cheese and some sweet potatoes are an excellent start.  If your breakfast and lunch are nutritious and satisfying, a light dinner is perfect for those December nights that you are not out celebrating.

M- Move.

Keep moving and do not let your exercise routine get thrown out due to the hectic pace of the silly season.  Mark your exercise time in your diary in advance, just like you would a business appoint or a doctor’s appointment.  To cement it even further into your daily commitment, exercise with a friend.  Studies show that we are more likely to make the fitness session if we have a buddy we have to answer to.   Not only will you feel better, but you will also burn excess fat, and exercise brings rich, nourishing blood flow to the skin for a healthy, merry glow.

P-Protein.

By increase quality proteins in your diet over the holiday season it will ‘crowd out the carbs’ and keep your blood sugar stabilised.  The more balanced your blood sugar is the more jingling you can do around the dance floor.  Chose things like almonds, walnuts, grilled chicken, eggs and grass fed whey protein shakes.

L-Liver. 

Let’s be conscious of the amount of alcohol your liver is processing.  When our livers are clean and not toxic, our metabolism works efficiently.  When our liver is bogged down detoxifying too much sugar and alcohol, you feel bloated and sluggish.  Too much champagne, cocktails, wine and beer add additional calories, hidden sugars, and sulphites, but also send your blood sugar roller coastering the following day.  Often the day after drinking to much, your body craves sugar, salt and fat because your blood sugar was derailed on the previous day. And that craving can be powerful and undermines all your good work.

E-Enjoy.

If you overindulge at a cocktail party or have one too many wines, do not beat yourself up.  Enjoy the season and if you slip up, then just get back on track at your next meal – and make it a whole food, protein dense, veggie filled delight.   Self sabotage often begins with being disgusted with yourself from overindulging, then moves to starvation, which then to leads to an eating binge. Not Good. So embrace and enjoy the festive season, and the next day plan for exercise and some nutrient dense, low sugar meals.

If you're still on a lookout for a holiday gift this season, our Eat Drink and Still Shrink book would be a great idea! To order, click here.