Cheers Big Ears – beat the bloat, bulge and ballooning!

I personally think the Christmas jumpers are wonderful!

The invites are flowing, the shelves at the supermarket are enticing, the workplace is filled with cakes and chocolates, the extra cooking at home, the social engagements and busy days can see you put on fat quicker that Santa’s Reindeers move the sleigh…sheesh!

Take some advice from Santa’s little helper (I think I’d make a great Elf) who wants you to stay on track this year. Here are my top 10 tips to beat the Christmas bloat, bulge and ballooning. Don’t be the person who has already decided “I’ll start a diet on the 1^st January.”

1. Don’t catch up with friends at a café or bar instead meet for a walk and talk, bike ride or picnic at the beach with the kids. Fresh air, a bit of sunshine and meeting up with your best buddy in this manner makes for a great way to laugh away the stresses and move at the same time.

2. Never be so busy you can’t look after your health. Get it through your head – we are all busy; we all have shit going on – prioritising your time to do a workout or a cook up is up to you. I reckon some people talk about being so busy that by the time they shut up they could have actually completed a decent workout. Less talk about how hard it is and take more action to make it happen.

3. Unless you have a metabolism like my husband, don’t buy calorie laden foods for others and ask they do the same for you. Now I love a bit of chocolate but if you know you can not control yourself; if you have not yet entrenched some new habits around over eating you need to say “no, please don’t sabotage my health”. And if you still get junk given to you and can’t control yourself – pass it on to someone who can!

4. Up you water intake! I guarantee with days out shopping, a few extra wines and late nights your body is in a state of dehydration. Nothing works well when we are dehydrated- our brains are sluggish, energy levels are low and our immune system is fighting to keep us well. If you need pick me ups like chocolate, a red bull or coke to get through the afternoon I guarantee you just need some good old H20 throughout your day!

5. Stay with fresh and yummy when you have people over for a catch up. Here in Tassie we are so blessed with an abundance of fresh oysters, salmon, berries, cherries and other fruit at this time of the year. If you put a bowl of chips out for nibbles I will eat them, especially if you sit them right in front of me. That way I only have to lift my arm and “voila” watch them disappear. If you find yourself in that spot at a party MOVE or move whatever you know you can’t stop at “just one” of.  PS If you put a plate of fruit out I will eat that too and not complain!

6. Stop buying crap you don’t need (and I don’t just mean food here). Putting strain on the budget at this time of the year is stressful. Stress is a prime mover in adding the kilos. Heard of cortisol? Whilst we need cortisol to regulate all sorts of important bodily functions, too much in your system and your body finds it hard to restore the norm and will start to store fat. Take home message is – don’t spend money you just don’t have. And speaking of stress look out for those stressful “relos” and friends who make you feel like the crappers. I reckon it’s time to be with the builders not breakers!

7. Don’t hover near the nibbles table. I use to do this so I know how it goes. One little something, turns into another something, into another and so on. You kind of fool yourself into thinking you really haven’t had too much – I can guarantee those extra calories will add up. In our Metabolic Precision course we discuss the concept of “one bite won’t hurt” and it can be mind-blowing how much one bite really can hurt!

8. Having a few too many drinks a bit too often? Alcohol is so easy to consume, especially if the weather is warm and friends have expectations and the champagne has been popped (by the way approx. 91 cals in a glass of champagne). Only one person controls your alcohol intake…just saying!! Ever fill up the wine glass with water? Seriously after people have a few they don’t even realise!! Just remember often it’s not about what you drink but the food choices you make when you are “under the influence.”

9. Stick with the exercise program – give up now and you will feel sluggish and start to give yourself some great reasons as to why you ‘deserve’ a break. How long will it take you to get going again? If your kids are on holidays get out and be active with them! Keep moving your butt!

10. Sleep (or lack of) is a big game changer in the fat loss war. If you just aren’t getting enough you will be sabotaging your fat loss plans. Late night after late night sets you up for one lazy tooshie who can’t be bothered training in the morning, preparing food or even being active around the house (if you get my drift)!!

A suggestion for next years family photo?

Cheers Big Ears for an Awesomely Happy and Healthy Christmas!