The Weekly Workout

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8 ways to fight off Christmas fat

By Matt Whitmore on 19 Dec 2010 1 comment

So the festive season is here ladies and we all know what that means. Wine, cakes, champagne, chocolate and lots of it. So here are my top 12 tips to reduce the damage done this Christmas.

1) Don't go crazy

It's easy this time of year to write things off until the new year but this is not the way to go as it will only make things harder come January. Enjoy a mince pie, have some drinks but what's important is that you know when to stop.

2) Grab some nuts

Try to eat plenty of nuts over Christmas. They are full of healthy fats and will reduce the impact all the naughty stuff has on your blood sugar levels. Brazil nuts are a great choice.

3) Keep moving

Don't wait for the new year's resolution to get active. Perform a short workout that takes no longer than 10-15 mins everyday to boost your metabolism and to make sure come January your not gasping for breath after a warm up. Check out my previous posts for short, fun, fat blasting workouts.

4) Stay hydrated

I too love a few beers at Christmas but it's important to drink plenty of water too so not to dehydrate. Dehydration will cause you to feel fatigued and will not help the hangover the following day. So get plenty of water down you.

5) Enjoy yourself

I know this sounds like an obvious one but the truth is so many people play the guilt trip on themselves for their indulgences at Christmas. Which is why it's important to treat yourself, relax and have fun. Don't deny yourself the treats you want and don't kid yourself into thinking 'I will be good is year' or 'I will only drink on Christmas day' or my favourite - 'I'm not going to eat anything bad this Christmas'. Some may laugh but I hear things like this way too often. Be realistic and be happy. Just know when to draw the line.

6) Start everyday right

Breakfast being the most important meal of the day could not be more true for me, especially at this time of year. There will be booze, there will be plenty of nutrient-lacking food so start your day with a really nutritious breakfast such as a smoked salmon omelette with avocado or porridge with fruit and honey. It will make a huge difference.

7) How many mince pies?

Like I said, it's important to enjoy yourself and have a treat but I think a great idea is to give yourself a realistic allowance. Have a treat everyday over Christmas but have no more than what you said you would have. For example: I will have a mince pie and a couple of glasses of wine today - or - I will have no more than four drinks at my works Xmas do. This way you will not feel deprived and you also won't feel guilty for having a treat. Winner.

8) ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Get plenty of sleep over Christmas. Our bodies take a bit of a beating over the festive period so do your best to deal with this by getting enough sleep. This rule remains true throughout the whole year and - trust me - your body will thank you for it.

So ladies, the above are just a few tips to help you out this Christmas but you could just ignore it all and go completely crazy :-) either way I just want you all to have a great time and enjoy yourselves. Have an amazing Christmas and an even better new year. I will have some great posts in the new year to get you on your way to getting the body have always wanted in 2012. I also have some great tips on goal setting and having realistic targets.

Yours in Fitness,

Matt Whitmore

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