Christmas Calories - how to enjoy xmas parties and stay slim

Pre-Christmas diet tips

As the countdown to Christmas begins it is great to get in shape now, if you can. If you manage to lose a few pounds before the feasting begins you are ahead of the game. If you start now you should be able to relax when Christmas day arrives and actually enjoy the festive season.

Losing a few pounds before the celebrations means that you won't have to pay for your Christmas fun with an extreme weight-loss programme in January.

Christmas weight gain
We can't avoid thinking about Christmas once November arrives - the shops are suddenly teeming with offers on all the goodies we connect with the festive season: mince pies, big tins of our favourite chocolates and sweets, bottles of champagne, wine and lager, liqueurs and party food.

If you succumb to temptation at this stage you are likely to put on quite a bit of weight before Christmas day even arrives. A study has shown we put on an average of 5lbs/2kg over December.

The best way is to recognise that this is going to be a very difficult time for those of us on a calorie controlled diet, and then try your best to side-step the temptations as much as possible, in the build up to Christmas.

Have your battle plan ready and you will win! If you allow yourself the treat of relaxing your diet on Christmas day it can help you get through until then.

Here are a few ideas where you can save precious calories when the Christmas parties start - and they seem to begin earlier every year!

Save calories at Christmas parties

Low Calorie Party Drinks

more low alcohol and low calorie drinks

Low Calorie Party Food

When helping yourself from a laden and tempting buffet table try to first choose a good portion of filling food like a baked potato, rice and salad, before choosing too many of the tastier high fat snacks. Don't visit the buffet too early or you will have plenty of chance to go back for seconds - grab an extra calorie-burning dance first!

Christmas Dieting

If you really are determined then you can continue swopping healthier alternatives, such as our suggestions above, all Christmas. However, we believe it does us all good to relax, within reason, for one day a year.

It's really difficult to seriously diet during the Christmas festivities, and you run the risk of making yourself miserable. The tendency will be that you will feel hard done by while everybody enjoys themselves, and there is a strong chance that you will 'break out' and overeat (probably the most tempting of Christmas delights), and then feel guilt ridden for the rest of the holiday.

The best way is to plan ahead as much as you can, by having lots of enjoyable healthier food and drink alternatives to hand if possible, but also to realise it is only once a year and a few treats won't hurt. When you eat or drink something you know is high in calories just try to reduce your intake somewhere else during the day, or try and incorporate a bit more exercise the next day. Don't beat yourself up about not sticking to your diet, remember tomorrow is another day.

People have feasted and celebrated during the long winter months for thousands of years, and come the New Year many then decide to make a fresh start with a healthier lifestyle. Allowing yourself to relax a little during the holiday shouldn't affect your weight-loss too severely, so have a Happy Christmas and enjoy yourself!

More Christmas Diet Tips