Owen Hlambulo, a Personal Fitness Trainer, shares tips to help you not gain weight this holiday season…

It may be a little late to get your body ready for Summer, but it’s never too late to learn tips to help you avoid gaining weight during the holiday season.

Owen Hlambulo, a Personal Fitness Trainer, says an average person gains 3kgs to 6kgs during the holiday season.

Many people during the holiday season cook up a storm and there are also a lot of gatherings where there is plenty of food. This may cause us to overeat and thus put on weight.

The personal trainer says it is important to manage your food portions.

“Minimise the temptation of second and third helpings when eating at home, serve the food on individual plates, instead of putting the serving dishes on the table. Keeping the excess food out of reach may discourage overeating. In addition to that, you don’t have to always eat to be too full,” says Owen.

Staying hydrated can also help you maintain a healthy weight.

“You’ve heard it said before that drinking water can help to lose weight and it’s all true. Drinking water can increase your metabolism up to 20% over a period of 30 to 90 minutes, helping you burn some extra calories. Drinking water before your meal can also help you not to over eat by my making you full faster, plus sometimes people mistake dehydration to hunger,” says Owen.

He also talks about the importance of being active and exercising.

The holiday season is a time to rest and unwind. During the period, many people are home and do not have to worry about going to work. This unfortunately can lead to many people being inactive.

“Inactivity does contribute to weight gain, especially if it’s accompanied with overeating,” says Owen.

He adds that even “simple exercises like running, walking, swimming, yoga, and stretches can all help keep those extra kilos off”.

Sleep has many benefits and is important for weight control.

“Getting a good night’s sleep is incredibly important for your health. In fact, it’s just as important as eating a balanced, nutritious diet and exercising.

“Though sleep needs vary from person to person, most people require between six and seven hours of sleep per night. Sleep deprivation can put your health and safety at risk, which is why it’s essential that you prioritize and protect your sleep on a daily basis,” says Owen.

According to Very Well Mind, stress “can significantly impact your ability to maintain a healthy weight.”

This is why Owen says: “It’s vital to keep stress levels under control”. He adds that “techniques like meditation and exercise can help keep stress levels under check.”

One of the things that lead to weight gain is excessive alcohol consumption.

Owen warns that “alcohol is very high in calories than most people realise, most of which are empty calories. This means that they provide your body with calories but contain very little nutrient.

“Excess calories from alcohol do lead to weight gain in the abdominal area causing an alcohol or beer belly. Cutting back on heavy alcohol can make it much easier to lose weight and be more healthy. People also tend to make poor food choices and craving as a result of drinking alcohol.”

By putting all of these suggestions into practice, you can enjoy the holiday season without worrying about weight gain and start the new year with healthy routines that will keep your health in control.