If you are watching your weight and want to lose weight, it makes sense to pay close attention to keeping the weight off during the holidays. More often than not, studies and empirical evidence indicates that people tend to put on weight substantially during the holidays.

There are some reasons for this phenomenon. Vacation time is when one is relaxed and care-free. Being away from the hustle and bustle of modern life gives one a sense of well being and could lead to a person putting on weight. One tends to take it easy and also put on extra calories by being more generous and indulgent when it comes to food and drink. Indiscipline is quite punishing and manifests itself in the form of extra weight especially during holidays.

Here are some tips on staying healthy during the holidays:

• Eat wisely: Just because you are on vacation that does not mean that you can abandon your balanced diet. Consuming excess carbohydrates and even proteins causes the excess calories to be converted into fat. This is not at all permissible if you want to manage and even lose weight. You need to maintain your balanced diet with adequate portions of the different food types included in your meals. Have smaller, but more frequent meals or snacks to ensure that your metabolism is maintained at a level which is conducive to overall health and induces weight loss. Again, if you starve, your metabolism could dip and create hunger pangs that could cause you to overeat and become bloated up.

• Exercise: This is essential for weight loss and maintenance. During vacations, many people have a tendency to laze it out and take it easy, even stopping their regular exercise routines just because it’s a holiday. This is not acceptable, as weight gain does not stop just because you are not working and taking rest. It’s advisable to keep on doing your exercises, preferably early in the morning so that the weight loss continues throughout the day. Start early and remain fit. If you are doing some sightseeing during the day and into the night, it’s better to exercise in the morning or else you may not have the time, energy or even the motivation to exercise later.

• Drink plenty of water: Drinking enough water is essential as it keeps your metabolism at an even level. Drinking small amounts of water before meals also restricts appetite and prevents you from gorging and overeating. When you are out in the sun, ingesting enough water is also essential to prevent dehydration which is unhealthy. You do not need to wait until you feel thirsty to drink water. Just drink small amounts of water regularly throughout the day to ensure that you are not dehydrated. Remember that the human body is 70% water and that water is essential for life.

• Keep off alcohol: Alcohol makes the body put on those extra kilos real quick. It’s true that a beer belly is very unseemly and makes one look unattractive. While an occasional drink could be okay, as a rule, try to avoid too much alcohol during vacations, so you can be sure you’re staying healthy during the holidays.

Follow the above tips to help in keeping the weight off during the holidays. Happy Holidays!

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